Health isn’t just found at the gym or in the doctor’s office—it’s right in your pocket. With the explosion of mobile health apps, it’s easier than ever to build and maintain healthy habits and practice relapse prevention using tools available with the touch of a button. Here’s a guide to 10 mostly free health apps that address five key areas of well-being: addiction recovery, exercise, nutrition, mind-body-spirit, and sleep.
Recovery
- Free with optional paid features
- Available on: iOS, Android
This highly-rated sobriety tracker helps you monitor your recovery journey by tracking days sober, setting goals, and reflecting on progress. It also offers daily pledges, motivational quotes, and a supportive community of people going through similar struggles. I Am Sober supports recovery from alcohol, different drugs, gambling, social media, and more.
- Free
- Available on: iOS, Android
Based on the SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) approach, this app provides science-based tools for managing addiction. Users can access daily motivational tools, set goals, and keep a thought journal. It’s especially useful if you prefer a secular, cognitive-behavioral approach to recovery.
Exercise
- Free
- Available on: iOS, Android
Nike Training Club offers hundreds of free workouts designed by professional trainers, including strength, cardio, yoga, and mobility sessions. With no need for a gym membership or equipment, it’s accessible for beginners and advanced users alike. The app also offers training plans and tips for building consistency.
- Free with optional upgrades
- Available on: iOS, Android
Perfect for busy schedules, this app focuses on scientifically backed high-intensity interval training routines that can be completed in just 7 minutes a day. It’s user-friendly, efficient, and a great way to build an exercise habit without investing a lot of time.
Nutrition
- Free with premium upgrade
Available on: iOS, Android
This all-in-one nutrition tracker allows you to log food intake, count calories, and monitor macronutrients. It features a massive food database, barcode scanner, and integration with fitness devices. While it offers a paid premium version, the free version is robust enough for most people’s needs.
- Free
- Available on: iOS, Android
Yuka scans the barcodes of food and personal care products to rate their health impact, offering simple explanations of ingredients and healthier alternatives. While not a traditional nutrition tracker, it empowers you to make smarter choices at the grocery store, making it a useful companion for better eating habits.
Mind-Body-Spirit
- Free with optional premium features
- Available on: iOS, Android
With thousands of free guided meditations, music tracks, and talks from spiritual teachers, psychologists, and scientists, Insight Timer is one of the most comprehensive meditation apps available. It also offers a customizable meditation timer, community features, and courses on mindfulness and emotional healing.
- Free
- Available on: iOS, Android
Developed by psychologists and educators, Smiling Mind offers mindfulness programs for all age groups, including kids and teens. It’s great for beginners looking to reduce stress, improve focus, and cultivate emotional balance. Unlike many meditation apps, Smiling Mind is 100% free and nonprofit-backed.
Sleep
- Free with optional premium
Available on: iOS, Android
Sleep Cycle uses your phone’s microphone to analyze your sleep patterns and wake you up during your lightest sleep phase, making mornings less groggy. It also provides detailed sleep tracking, insights on sleep quality, and recommendations for improvement. The free version is quite functional for basic tracking.
BetterSleep (formerly Relax Melodies)
- Free with in-app purchases
- Available on: iOS, Android
BetterSleep offers a personalized experience for improving sleep through soundscapes, bedtime stories, breathing exercises, and sleep meditations. It’s especially effective for people who struggle with racing thoughts at night and need help winding down.
You, Only Better, With Help From Sobriety Centers of New Hampshire
The benefit of health apps is that they provide a foundation for you to build habits incrementally, track progress, and stay motivated. While they’re not a replacement for professional care, these tools reinforce your goals, offer daily structure, and help you feel empowered in your health journey.
Still, it’s important to remember that health is not one-size-fits-all. If an app isn’t working for you or starts to feel like pressure instead of support, don’t hesitate to try another or take a break.
Our primary mission at Sobriety Centers of New Hampshire is to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment. We have three locations to serve you:
- The Antrim House in Antrim, a detoxification and residential treatment facility for men and women.
- The Lakes Addiction Treatment Center in Laconia offers inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient rehabilitation programs for men and women.
Our board-certified professionals will have other app suggestions to help you navigate recovery with guidance from our addiction specialists, therapists, and alumni. Talk to our admissions staff to learn more.