The best apps for stress and anxiety
By the MOJO team · Updated · 3 min read
The short answer
Apps for stress and anxiety fall into three groups: tools to calm down in the moment (guided breathing and meditation), tools to work through anxious thoughts, and trackers that show what triggers your stress. MOJO is best for finding your triggers through 30-second voice check-ins; Headspace and Calm are strong for guided calm; Insight Timer has a huge free library; How We Feel helps you name emotions; and MindShift CBT offers free tools based on cognitive behavioural therapy.
What to look for
Think about when you need help. If anxiety spikes suddenly, you want something you can open and use in under a minute. If stress builds over weeks, you want something that shows you the pattern. Many people use one of each.
- Fast to use when you're anxious.
- Tools for the moment and insight over time.
- Private by default.
- Free to start, so you can try before committing.
Our picks
Disclosure: we make MOJO, so it's listed first. Every other app here is one we'd genuinely suggest for the use case, and we've kept descriptions to what each app is known for.
1. MOJOBest for: Finding what triggers your stress
Say how your day went in about 30 seconds and MOJO logs your mood, sleep and activity, keeps your words as a journal entry, and shows patterns like more anxious days after short sleep or calmer days after a walk. Launching on iOS and Android on 1 December 2026.
2. HeadspaceBest for: Guided meditation for stress
One of the best-known meditation apps, with guided sessions for stress, anxiety, focus and sleep, including short ones for tough moments.
3. CalmBest for: Relaxation and sleep
Known for Sleep Stories, calming music and guided meditations. Good if stress and anxiety affect your sleep.
4. Insight TimerBest for: A big free library
A very large collection of guided meditations and talks from many teachers, with lots available for free.
5. How We FeelBest for: Naming your emotions
A free app from a nonprofit that helps you identify exactly what you're feeling and suggests short strategies to help.
6. MindShift CBTBest for: Working through anxious thoughts
A free app from Anxiety Canada with tools based on cognitive behavioural therapy, such as thought journals and coping cards.
Combine calming and tracking
A calming app helps you get through a hard moment; a tracker helps you have fewer of them. Pairing a quick daily check-in with a breathing or meditation app covers both.
Apps help, but they're not treatment
Wellness apps are good at building habits and helping you notice patterns. They don't diagnose or treat anything. If low mood, anxiety or exhaustion last for weeks or make it hard to function, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. If you're in crisis, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line such as 988 in the US or Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for anxiety?
It depends on what you need. For calming down, a meditation app like Headspace, Calm or Insight Timer. For working through anxious thoughts, MindShift CBT. For understanding your triggers, a check-in app like MOJO.
Are there free apps for stress and anxiety?
Yes. Insight Timer, How We Feel and MindShift CBT are known for free tools, and MOJO is free to start.
Can an app treat anxiety?
No. Apps can help you cope and notice patterns, but they don't diagnose or treat anxiety. If anxiety is affecting your daily life, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
This guide is general wellbeing information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your mental health, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.