The 10 most popular mental health and wellness apps

May 18, 2022 3:28 PM

Employees aren’t just looking for digital solutions to help them successfully work from home, but to help them heal from home, too.

Throughout the pandemic, consumers learned to prioritize their mental health and wellness, all from the comfort of their homes. In 2021, 24.5% of submitted insurance claims were for digital health and wellness perks and apps, according to HR tech company Compt, which reviewed over 100,000 claims. That commitment to self care is on track to keep pace through 2022.

“The pandemic spurred an increased focus on the ongoing mental health crisis with demand for health and fitness apps increasing by 25% compared to 2019,” says Lexi Sydow, head of insights, digital insights platform data.ai. “As employees return to the office, mobile enables consumers to practice meditation no matter their location.”

In the U.S., the top three most-used mental health apps throughout the pandemic were Calm, Headspace and Reflectly, according to data.ai. Combined, the three apps reached 12.53 million downloads across iOS and Google Play in the first six months of 2020 alone.

Different generations were on the search for different kinds of support and results, the data found. Gen Z more frequently downloaded apps tailored to journaling or reflection, while millennials favored solutions that took a more hands-on approach, such as breathing exercises and apps geared towards nurturing relationships. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, prioritized relaxation and sleep-focused apps.

Below, data.ai ranked the top health and wellness apps by the number of downloads across the U.S. See if your favorite made the list:

Calm

Calm is a sleep and meditation app that includes guided meditations and sleep stories for users suffering from anxiety and restlessness.

Super Slime Simulator

This app allows users to create virtual slime — a real-life science experiment trend that became popular among children and adults in order to distract themselves — and play with it on their mobile device, complete with autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) sounds and relaxing patterns and colors.

Finch: Self Care Widget Pet

Pets are great for managing stress and anxiety, but not everyone can have the time or accessibility to own one. Which is why this app allows its users to take care of a virtual pet while prompting them to take better care of themselves.

Motivation Quotes -Daily Quote

As the name implies, this app sends its users daily motivational messages to get through the day.

Replika

Sometimes all someone needs is someone to talk to. Replika is an AI powered chatbot that allows users to talk out their thoughts and emotions.

Paired: Relationship & Couples

The biggest source of stress in someone’s life could be their relationships. Paired is a guide to improve communication, stay connected and deepen intimacy for couples via quizzes and questionnaires.

Headspace

Headspace is a sleep and mindfulness app, helping users create healthy meditation habits.

Pray.com

Pray.com is for users in search of a religious community to help them with their wellness needs. The platform includes social media, daily prayers, sermons, biblical content and podcasts.

Mood Balance: Self Care Tracker

This app keeps track of your mood and emotions while also providing users with tailored solutions to really break down their mental health journey and promote healthy coping mechanisms.

Breathwrk: Breathing Exercises

Breathwrk uses guided breathing exercises to alleviate anxiety, increase energy, improve focus and help users fall asleep.