There is a dedicated section with free mood tracking apps here in this blog: https://moodtrackers.org/category/free-mood-tracking-apps/, and also the homepage shows the apps that I personally consider the best.
However, I still think the blog lacks a simple and straightforward description of where to start with mood tracking if you’d prefer to not pay for the services. So starting this month, I will write (and probably update) a summary of what’s available in the app stores and what is best as of now. One important remark here is that if you’re serious about this activity and is ready to pay, the paid options are definitely better. Another is that the apps mentioned here might not be necessarily completely free, some of them have paid “premium” versions. However, all the apps have enough functionality in the free tier that allows their use without much of a hassle.
So, let’s start!
We are going to review 6 apps and choose the best! If you don’t want to read the reviews and just want to see the results, just scroll to the bottom.
Apple Health
Yes, Apple Health has an emotion and mood tracking functionality! So if you’re an iPhone user and having very basic functionality is enough for you, I think it’s simply is the best option to start with. The reason is that you can be 100% sure that Apple won’t make it paid (you’ve already paid them a grand for that phone, right?) and also won’t stop the app support randomly.
As the app lacks analytics and customizations, you might want to find more comprehensive solution. But who knows, maybe it’ll be enough for you, so why bother with installing 3rd-party apps then?
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/apple-health-comprehensive-review/
Mood-Tracker
Yes, the developer of this app is not very creative with app naming:). Or maybe they just wanted to make sure to be somewhere at the top of “mood tracker” search query in the App Store. The app has very minimalistic functionality and interface. However, while it’s totally possible use it and see your moods for a year, you won’t be able to look into historical data without buying a premium version or watching an ad.
In general, the app can be an option, but only if you like the basic functionality.
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/mood-tracker-minimalistic-mood-tracking-app-review/
Anxiety Tracker
This app has many features and tries to propose some solutions to fight anxiety besides tracking your moods. Its interface is a little clunky though, so I wouldn’t say that it’s the easiest and most convenient app to use. It has many customization options, so if you overcome the UI complexity, it can be a good option. If not, then other apps can be better.
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/anxiety-tracker-app-review/
EMMO
This is a very weird app but I like it! It’s not your regular mood tracking application, but rather some kind of social media/self expression app mixed with emotion tracking:). It allows you to track your emotions, see them on the map, and even draw them! All while sharing with some random people on the Internet. If this doesn’t scare you, you can definitely try playing with the app. The one issue is that it looks like its target audience is in China, so the interface is not fully translated to English. In my opinion, it adds a nice flavor to the user experience, but I’m sure that people who just want mood tracking won’t like it. Another problem is that if you don’t buy premium version, you will see quite intrusive ads:(.
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/emmo-app-review/
Daylio
In general, I consider Daylio premium version the “best overall” classical mood tracking app. It doesn’t have maps or social features, doesn’t offer you hear rate monitors or anxiety treating exercises. But if your goal is to meticulously follow your mood changes and analyze the data over time, it is the best option. The app also has a free version that sometimes nags you with “buy premium” banners and limits analytics. However, even free version is still good enough for basic usage. It means that you might start with free and convert to premium if you want in the future.
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/daylio-app-review/
Pixy
I guess Pixy is the only completely free app on the market now. If you know any other, please let me know! No ads, no premium versions, just simple UI and sufficient analytics. Yes, the app is not the most beautiful and doesn’t have as many features as Daylio. But it’s open source and free! Unfortunately, it’s not in the active development now, so it might be possible that eventually you phone will stop supporting the app after some new OS update.
But otherwise, it’s good option, especially if you don’t care about backing up your data in the cloud. Considering the fact that it’s the only completely free mood tracking app, I think it’s the best one.
Link to the full review: https://moodtrackers.org/pixy-app-review/
Results
As the result, I think currently you have the following best free options to try:
- Pixy – the only truly free app now without any purchases, good enough customization and basic analytics. Not the best UI and no cloud backups, but you can live with it.
- Apple Health Mood and Emotion Tracker – not an app, but a feature inside Apple Health. Isn’t available on Android obviously, and doesn’t have enough customization. You can try it first if you’ve got an iPhone, and download something else if you want more feature.
Other apps have their significant drawbacks, and for now I don’t think you can have a top tier mood tracking experience without paying money unfortunately.
Any feedback or information on the new apps to review is welcome!
Leave a Reply