Addiction recovery is a difficult process that is often stigmatized and isolating. Many apps, however, are available to help ease the process, whether you’re looking for a like-minded sober community or more accountability. Some apps are meant to be used with a treatment program or can be used on their own.
1. I Am Sober
iPhone Rating: 4.9 stars
Android Rating: 4.8 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
I Am Sober lets you customize your journey into sobriety with tracking, interactive updating, and a review process. This allows you to analyze triggers and see how you can make the next day better than the last. I Am Sober includes a daily tracker where you can start a new pledge for every day and see your milestones in real-time.
I Am Sober also features a withdrawal calendar that can prepare you for what’s to come in the next few weeks. You can even add how you’re feeling day-to-day or compare with others to see how they are doing on their journey. This app allows you to visually track your own sobriety and find a community.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Users love the visual tracking in a variety of formats to see how far they’ve come
- Clear and concise
- Can acknowledge mental health
Cons:
- Some users report feeling stressed by the constant push notifications
- Users can lose data if switching phones
2. Simple Habit
iPhone Rating: 4.8 stars
Android Rating: 4.7 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Simple Habit is technically a mindfulness app, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its place in addiction recovery. Mindfulness has been proven to help with anxiety, which may be a side effect of those struggling with addiction.
Whether you have five minutes or twenty, Simple Habit has meditations for every time slot. The app offers guided mindfulness & meditation, daily motivation, and even guided sleep sessions. You can choose meditations by type or category, including meditations for a big event or a break at work. The app is organized into two major categories: “Meditate” or “Sleep.”
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- On-the-go meditations
- Meditations by category
Cons:
- Some content locked behind a paywall
3. Sober Time
iPhone Rating: 4.8 stars
Android Rating: 4.7 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases (bundle for $3.99, remove adds for $1.99, widget for $1.99, etc.)
Sober Time is a sober day counter that lets you track as many addictions as you want in a clean and beautiful design. You can set it so your widget is visible from your home screen, allowing you to easily see just how far you’ve come. Share your milestones in Sober Time’s active community or find others going through the same thing you are.
This app also shows you how much money you’ve saved by being sober, is fully customizable, and has daily motivational messages for you as well. Users really love the social support and community of other users on their sober journey.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Clean, beautiful design
- Active sober community
- Motivating and encouraging
Cons:
- Ads on the free version can be distracting (removable for $1.99)
4. Sober Grid
iPhone Rating: 4.9 stars
Android Rating: 3.7 Stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Stepping away from addiction can be a lonely process, especially if most of your social group was rooted in your addiction. Sober Grid is a social network for those looking for support. You can find other sober individuals in your community, or find new friends online.
Sober Grid has a sobriety tracker and an SOS feature that lets you alert others when you need someone to chat with ASAP. If you’re struggling to find a new community, this may be for you,
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Connect with a like-minded community
- Social support
Cons:
- Users reported issues with Android phones
5. WEconnect
iPhone Rating: 4.8 stars
Android Rating: 4.3 stars
Cost: Dependent on your healthcare provider
WEconnect is a recovery program designed to be used alongside a substance abuse disorder treatment plan. You’ll need to be enrolled in a partner facility and given an access code. The app’s entire premise is on positive reinforcement and providing rewards for positive behavioral changes.
The app helps you stay accountable to routines and rewards you for good behavior. You get reminders for your meetings, track your recovery process, and stay connected with your mentor or sponsor. You create a personalized plan with the help of your recovery specialist and earn rewards like Amazon gift cards for following through.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Uses positive reinforcement
- Rewards good behavior
Cons:
- Can only be used alongside a recognized treatment program, so may not be an option for those looking for alternative methods
6. AA Big Book
iPhone Rating: 4.8 stars
Android Rating: 4.7 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
If you’re working with the Alcoholics Anonymous program you’ll appreciate this unofficial resource. This app has the entirety of the Big Book, the basic text used for all AA meetings, as well as chapter discussions, podcasts, speaker tapes, and a sobriety checker.
You can also engage with other AA members and find local meetings.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Easy access to the entire Big Book
- Can highlight text
- Find local meetings
Cons:
- Users report places aren’t bookmarked if they leave the app
- Specific to AA Members
7. Recovery Path: Addiction Recovery & Addiction Help
iPhone Rating: 4.9 stars
Android Rating: 4.8 stars
Cost: Free
This app uses motivational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and community reinforcement to help you reach your recovery goals. Share your progress, identify risky situations, and celebrate small victories with Recovery Path. There’s also a suite of support apps for friends, family, and even clinicians to help build your community.
You can also use it to find local meetings to sync to your phone as well. Recovery Path’s community support is baked into the app, making recovery, which can often be a lonely process, a little easier.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Users love being able to set up reminders
- Can be shared with loved ones
Cons:
- Minor bugs that have been fixed since the app was released
8. Sober Tool
iPhone Rating: 4.7 stars
Android Rating: 4.5 stars
Cost: Free
This sobriety tracker was built by a licensed chemical dependency counselor and a team from Ohio State University. While this app has many of the same bells and whistles as others, what sets Sober Tool apart is its craving analyzer. When you have a craving for an addictive substance, you can answer a few questions in the app. Sober Tool will then give you insight into your cravings and help you understand what you’re feeling. Understanding your emotions can help you better prepare for stressful or risky situations and keep from relapsing.
This app works for those who have completed outpatient treatment and are looking for more support, or for those who have been clean and sober for a while but are still facing stress around the issue.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Daily motivation reminders
- Craving analyzer
Cons:
- Users have complained about ads making messages difficult to read
9. Nomo
iPhone Rating: 4.8 stars
Android Rating: 4.6 stars
Cost: Free
This no-frills tracker lets you create as many addiction clocks as you want. It also lets you send messages to others when you’re tempted to relapse, and has minigames to distract you from your cravings.
Nomo was created by Parker Stech, a man in recovery himself. If you’re looking for more features, Nomo lets you collect chips for milestones and find encouragement from other users. You can also see how much money you’ve saved by not supporting your old habits.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Simple, straightforward
Cons:
- Some Android users may face issues
10. I am
iPhone Rating: 4.9 stars
Android Rating: 4.8 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
“The best way to strengthen your resilience is to practice affirmations every day.” That’s the motto behind the positive affirmation app I am. According to the app, daily affirmations help rewire our brains, build self-esteem, and change negative thought patterns, which are all important in addiction recovery.
The app gives you daily positive affirmations in a clean, visually soothing setting, but you can also pick by theme or category if in the need of something specific. You can also download your favorites to your phone or share them with a friend.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- Clean, visually soothing interface
- Daily affirmations straight to your phone
- Can schedule reminders throughout the day
Cons:
- A few users have reported some notifications can’t be paused or turned off
- Some features locked by a paywall
11. AA 12 Step Toolkit RecoveryBox
iPhone Rating: 4.7 stars
Android Rating: 4.6 stars
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
This app is a good companion for those participating in Alcoholics Anonymous. It lines out the entire 12-step program including the entire Big Book. Recovery Box also features in-app sponsorship to support you on your recovery. Go through the 12-step program by yourself or alongside an AA team. Find support, journal your feelings, and read AA stories from others.
Pros & Cons From User Reviews
Pros:
- A great companion for the AA program
Cons:
- Specifically to be used with AA
Finding a Therapist Who Can Help You With Addiction
There are a variety of professionals who can help you overcome your addiction, including counselors, caseworkers, and therapists. If your addiction is interfering with your ability to complete work or life obligations, you may want to find a therapist who can help. Search for one in your area using an online directory.
