Choosing Therapy’s Scoring Criteria for Eating Disorder Apps

Eating disorder apps are not a substitute for professional care, but they can serve as helpful tools to support treatment adherence and follow treatment recommendations outside of a clinical setting. Selecting the right app can be difficult, particularly for someone who is new to using mental health apps. We aim to guide users by providing comprehensive, unbiased reviews and ratings to help identify the best eating disorder apps for users’ needs.

Our reviews are grounded in first-hand product use and testing, thorough research, and user feedback. We evaluate apps based on several critical factors, including treatment integration and referrals to care, content and capabilities, the ability to mitigate risks, interface, progress tracking, cost, reliability, customer service, and privacy. These criteria are designed to highlight apps that deliver safe, effective, and user-friendly support.

For eating disorder apps specifically, we prioritize features that contribute directly to recovery and well-being. This includes real-time self-monitoring (e.g., mood tracking), meal logging, adaptive coping strategies, and the ability to integrate with clinical care. If they can’t integrate directly, there should be some sort of encouragement or referral to seek treatment.

Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of our scoring criteria and star-rating system, outlining the elements that make an eating disorder app stand out in a positive way.

1. Treatment Integration & Referral

This category evaluates how effectively the app bridges the gap between users and professional care, recognizing that individuals with eating disorders may avoid treatment or resist change. An app in this category should facilitate a clear pathway to clinical support, whether through direct integration with existing treatment plans or by offering motivational tools and resources to encourage users to seek help. Providing accessible, evidence-based referrals and ensuring alignment with clinical care is essential to build trust and guide users toward recovery. Without these elements, apps risk reinforcing isolation or enabling maladaptive behaviors.

Star Ratings Treatment Integration & Referral

5-stars – The app is designed specifically for use with clinical eating disorder treatment and includes the ability to integrate with the users’ care team. It utilizes evidence-based treatments and principles and includes adaptive coping strategies as well as step-by-step instructions on how to utilize strategies in moments of high distress. If the app does not integrate with clinical care, it should display encouragement/referrals for treatment.

3-stars – The app is appropriate as an adjunct to eating disorder treatment or a method to receive existing evidence-based treatment (e.g., CBT, DBT, ACT) as it relates to the stress management, anxiety reduction, or general well-being of someone with an eating disorder. It includes encouragement or a referral to clinical treatment.

1-star – In our opinion, this eating disorder app is ineffective or unsafe to use with or without treatment. We do not recommend its use.

2. Evidence-Based Content & Capabilities

This category examines the app’s reliance on clinically validated methods to support eating disorder recovery. Key features include real-time self-monitoring and data collection tools, allowing users to document their experiences as they occur rather than relying on retrospective recall. Effective self-reporting of moods, thoughts, and behaviors helps users identify patterns and triggers. Additionally, the app should offer adaptive coping strategies, complete with clear, actionable instructions, to guide users through moments of active distress and reinforce healthy behaviors. These capabilities ensure the app provides practical, evidence-backed support tailored to the complexities of eating disorders.

Star Ratings For Evidence-Based Content & Capabilities

5-star – The app has plenty of evidence-based content, capabilities, and resources. These include 1) real-time self-monitoring and data collection tools; 2) self-reporting of moods, thoughts, and behaviors; 3) adaptive coping strategies with clear instructions on how to use them while in active distress.

3-star – The app has some evidence-based content, capabilities, and resources, including the three examples listed above. It displays some sort of encouragement/referral for treatment. New updates are sparse.

1-star – The app’s variety and amount of content is low. There isn’t enough or the scope is too narrow to be worth investing time or money in. There are few or no content updates.

3. Mitigating Risks

This category evaluates how effectively the app minimizes potential harm to users, particularly in ways that could conflict with or undermine in-person treatment. Key considerations include safeguarding against harmful advice in forums or social features, aligning app recommendations with evidence-based care, and ensuring content is moderated to prevent triggering or harmful discussions. The app should also address risks associated with social media integration, provide immediate access to crisis resources, and include safeguards to ensure users remain supported and safe throughout their recovery journey.

Star Ratings For Mitigating Risks

5-star – Advice and resources on the app come from verified professionals and credible sources. If the app has any forums or social media presence, these portals are closely monitored and safeguarded against harmful or triggering content that could exacerbate symptoms. Moderation policies are transparent. Crisis support (helplines, emergency contacts, etc.) is built in and easy to access.

3-star – The app’s recommendations generally align with professional care but lack nuance or adaptability to the user’s treatment plan. While most content comes from credible sources, some does not. Moderation on forums and in social spaces is inconsistent or slow. Crisis support and proactive safety measures are not readily available.

1-star – The app provides contradictory or harmful recommendations and advice. User-generated content is unchecked and unmoderated, allowing the spread of unsafe content and/or triggering discussions. The app provides unfiltered access to external platforms with no safeguard. Most content lacks credibility and some could actually pose a risk to the users’ health. There are no links to resources or crisis support.

4. Interface & User Experience

This category assesses the app’s design, accessibility, and overall ease of use. An effective interface should be intuitive, visually calming, and free of distractions, enabling users to navigate features effortlessly. A thoughtful, user-centric design enhances engagement and ensures the app is a helpful, supportive tool in the recovery process.

Star Ratings For Interface & User Experience

5-stars –The app is easy to navigate and intuitive. Users of any age within the app’s recommended age range can quickly figure out how to use it. It has a pleasing visual design and the entire experience matches well with user experience design best practices.

3-stars – The app offers an average user experience, it’s somewhat tricky to navigate, and it takes more time to understand how to use the tools or find the features the users want. The design, style, and organization aren’t as appealing as other mental health apps or may be of mediocre design quality.

1-star – The app is difficult to use, poorly organized, and has an unappealing design or a design that significantly conflicts with user experience design best practices.

5. Progress Tracking & Personalization

This category evaluates the app’s ability to help users monitor their recovery journey and tailor the experience to their unique needs. Effective progress tracking includes tools for documenting behaviors, emotions, and goals with visual insights. Personalization features allow users to adapt the app to their specific recovery challenges, co-occurring conditions, and treatment plans, ensuring a supportive and relevant experience that evolves alongside their progress.

Star Ratings For Progress Tracking & Personalization

5-star – The app offers detailed and customizable tools for tracking behaviors, emotions, physical health, and treatment goals. This includes data visualizations (e.g., charts or graphs) to help users clearly see trends over time. Progress tracking aligns with validated treatment methodologies and supports recovery. Users can tailor the app to their unique needs, including specific eating disorder challenges, treatment goals, and co-occurring conditions.

3-star – The app allows users to track some metrics but lacks depth or detail. Visualizations may be minimal or hard to interpret. While some features support validated recovery practices, others feel generic or disconnected from professional treatment strategies. Some customization exists, but users may not be able to tailor the app to meet their unique needs and treatment plans.

1-star – The app has minimal or no progress tracking, or the tools provided are too poorly designed to be useful. Users have no way to customize the experience or tailor the app to their specific needs. It fails to provide actionable feedback or any motivational elements.

6. Cost & Free Trials

This category assesses the app’s affordability, transparency in pricing, and availability of free trials or features. A highly rated app provides clear information about costs, offers a reasonable balance between free and premium features, and ensures essential tools are accessible without financial barriers. Free trials or freemium models allow users to evaluate the app’s value and effectiveness before committing to a subscription.

Star Ratings For Cost & Free Trials

5-stars – The app is either free or its cost directly reflects its quality – the variety and quality of content is high, the app is well-supported by developers. The cost of the app is justified, users are getting what they paid for, and there are no surprise costs or fees. Members get a free trial period to learn about the app and try it before purchasing. If there’s no free trial, there is a free version.

3-stars –The app’s quality isn’t totally reflective of its price. Maybe the price is slightly too high, or the app is only worth it to some groups and not to others. Alternatively, the price is justified, but there is no free trial period and no options for users to engage with the app prior to subscribing.

1-star –The price does not match the quality of the app. It’s too expensive for what users are getting.

7. Reliability & Longevity

This category evaluates the app’s stability, consistency, and long-term support. A reliable app functions smoothly with minimal bugs or crashes, while regular updates ensure it stays current with advancements in eating disorder care. Longevity is reflected in the app’s commitment to maintaining its services, supporting users over time, and fostering trust as a dependable tool in the recovery process.

Star Ratings For Reliability & Longevity

5-stars – The mental health app has over 5K (mostly positive) reviews and has existed for more than five years. The developers conduct updates, upgrades, and new content is added frequently. Any complaints are dealt with and resolved quickly and effectively.

3-stars – The app has over 1K (mostly positive) reviews and has existed for more than two years. The developers conduct updates and upgrades once or twice a year. New content is not added frequently. Complaints are dealt with and resolved.

1-star –The app has less than 500 reviews and has existed for less than a year. Or the app has existed for many years but has limited or mostly negative reviews, no upgrades/updates, and it’s been over a year since new content has been added.

8. Customer Service

This category assesses the availability and quality of support provided to users. Highly rated apps offer responsive, empathetic, and knowledgeable customer service, with multiple channels for assistance, such as email, chat, or phone. Clear help resources, timely issue resolution, and a commitment to user satisfaction are essential for fostering trust and ensuring a positive user experience.

Star Rating For Customer Service

5-stars –The app offers excellent customer service. There are sufficient channels to communicate with a representative, including email, text, chat, and phone. Responses to issues and complaints are completed within 24-48 hours. There are very few, if any, customer complaints in reviews online. When issues are reported in reviews online, the app developers respond efficiently and effectively.

3-stars – The app provides an average level of customer service. There are limited channels to communicate with a representative, and users may only find an email or a phone number to call. Response time takes more than two days and app developers only sometimes respond to issues reported in reviews online.

1-star –The app provides poor customer service. Users can only reach a representative through one channel. Response time takes over one business week (5 days) and many issues are left unresolved. App developers do not respond to reported issues in reviews online.

9. Privacy & Security

This category evaluates the app’s measures to protect user data and maintain confidentiality. A highly rated app ensures compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA, uses encryption to secure personal information, and provides clear, transparent policies about data usage. Strong privacy and security practices are essential for building trust and safeguarding the sensitive information of individuals in recovery.

Star Ratings For Privacy & Security

5-stars –Privacy policies are easy to find, clearly stated, and specific. The company is transparent about data-sharing practices and consistently meets users’ expectations. There are no reports of security issues, such as personal or credit card information being stolen.

3-stars – Privacy policies and data sharing practices are difficult to find and/or generic and unspecific. There may have been some incidents of users facing security issues with private information.

1-star –The company has no privacy policy. There have been many reports of security issues with private user information. The company shares member account information without informing the user.

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This content was last updated 02/25/2025 by the Choosing Therapy team.