Joon is an ADHD app that helps parents motivate their kids to practice responsibility and develop healthier habits. Joon motivates kids by having virtual pets to raise and care for, along with coins earned for completing “quests” or tasks assigned by parents. Joon costs $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually, with both plans featuring a seven-day free trial.
Joon App At a Glance
Cost: $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually
Pros & Cons of Joon
Pros - Makes habit-building fun
- New features are always being added
- Great customer service
- Templates for easy set-up
- A holistic approach to well-being
Cons - Only available for Apple devices
- No online gameplay/multiplayer gaming
- Optimized only for kids 6-12 years old
- Not intended as a therapy substitute
- You must use multiple devices, one for your child and one for yourself
Who Is Joon Right For?
- Children ages 6-12
- Children diagnosed with ADHD
- Families with communication or relationship challenges
Preview Joon
Joon is an ADHD app for kids offering gamification to help with day-to-day tasks, chores, and self-care. The app gives kids a pet, called a Doter, that they have to raise and care for by earning rewards for completing tasks, called quests, assigned by their parents. Joon costs $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually, with both plans featuring a seven-day free trial.
To use Joon, you must download two apps: the parent app (Joon) and the child-facing app (Joon Pet Game). It is also important to keep in mind that having another device for your child to use the Joon Pet Game is more effective. The Joon Pet Game does require a login code from the parent app. Without this code, your child will not be able to use the Joon Pet Game. You can run both the parent app and the child app on one device, but the program works better with two devices.
The Joon App has a 4.7 star rating from 5.6K reviews in the Apple App Store and no reviews have been written on Google Play Store as of yet due to still being considered in development. Joon is a great app for children 6-12 years old, but teens and adults may find it too childish. Additionally, if your child or teen already has healthy, established routines Joon may not be as beneficial. Joon is also not intended as therapy or coaching and families seeking this type of care will need to find an alternative.
Why You Can Trust My Review
Lena Suarez-Angelino is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who specializes in self-esteem, stress management, and life transitions. She has been practicing for over six years and is based in New Jersey. Lena has been writing for Choosing Therapy since 2020 and in the fall of 2022 began reviewing online therapy and mental health apps.
Joon App is a better choice than traditional family management apps for interactive games, virtual pet care, and rewards. As a therapist, and someone also diagnosed with ADHD, I recommend this app for parents with children who have ADHD.
Based on our quantitative multi-point scoring criteria, Joon earned 4.5 out of 5 stars during our most recent review.
Review our scoring criteria for mental health apps here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
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Joon App Key Takeaways
- New updates are added often to improve the app experience
- Improves communication among parents and children
- Helps to keep kids motivated and feeling empowered to be more independent
- Makes household management easier for parents
- Helps you understand your child’s executive functioning with weekly check-ins
What Is the Joon App?
Joon is an ADHD app for kids offering gamification to help with day-to-day tasks, chores, and self-care. The app gives kids a pet, called a Doter, that they have to raise and care for by earning rewards for completing tasks, called quests, assigned by their parents. Joon costs $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually, with both plans featuring a seven-day free trial.
In order to use Joon, you must download two apps: the parent app (Joon) and the child-facing app (Joon Pet Game). It is also important to keep in mind that having another device for your child to use the Joon Pet Game is more effective. As of now, there are no multiplayer options, but your entire family will share an “Overworld” and your child can visit a plaza where other children’s Doters are found but is more of a visual space versus an online chat space.
During the seven-day free trial, you can assign and approve seven quests per day to your child. Other features include the “Guide” tab where you can find parent resources, your child’s executive functioning check-in, and suggestions on other quests you can assign. There is a “Family” tab where you review your child’s progress on their quests, behavior reports, and developed skill areas. This tab also lets you manage your child’s game settings, you can send personalized messages, manage game limits, and create custom rewards.
The Joon Pet Game is the child-facing app and requires a login code from the parent app. Without this code, your child will not be able to use the Joon Pet Game. You can run both the parent app and the child app on one device, but the program works better with two devices. Once you have your child’s app connected they will be prompted to hatch their first egg which introduces them to their “Doter.” There is also a text-to-speech feature that can read things aloud to your child.
Your child can access their quest and rewards in three ways: going to the message board in their “Overworld,” in their “Care” screen and clicking the checklist icon, or tapping on their “Doter” anywhere within their game and clicking on the checklist icon labeled “Quests.” Once your child completes a quest, the Joon parent app will receive a notification that your child has completed a quest and they are ready for review. Your child will not earn their rewards until approved within the parent app, and trust me, they will remind you to do this if they want to keep earning coins to care for their pet.
As a therapist, reward systems and gamification are significantly helpful for children with ADHD and adults with ADHD, whether they have been given a formal diagnosis or not. Studies also find that the repetitiveness of the conventional task combined with the suggested gamification techniques might help in influencing task adherence and reduce the abandonment of their tasks or app.1, 2, 3
As someone who has also been diagnosed with ADHD, I cannot wait until the Joon developers release a version for adults. For now, I keep both apps on my phone and use them interchangeably. I have always found that gamifying tasks give me little boosts of dopamine that help keep me motivated and more consistent in reaching my goals. When I was younger, I used video games as a way to cope with life stressors and socialize with others, but I wish I had had an app like Joon instead.
What Do Parents Need to Know Before Signing Up?
Parents need to know that they are ultimately in charge of the Joon app and need to put in the time to assign and approve quests. The app developers have made understanding how to use the app extremely clear and their customer service is available to answer any questions you may have.
As a reminder, Joon is not a replacement for therapy, nor does it market itself to be. Joon should be used as a tool to develop and enhance executive functioning for children and improve household management tasks such as chores or morning and nighttime routines.
Are There Any Potential Problems With the Joon App?
Aside from the annual cost for the game, parents and children were concerned about Joon’s lifespan and ability to keep a child’s attention and interests. When I spoke to co-founders, Kevin Bunarjo and Brad Brenner, they are actively making new updates to enhance the features, add more items to the shop, and recently allowed for custom rewards to be earned. Custom rewards allow for your child to complete more quests over a longer period of time if it is a “higher valued” item, or it can be easier to earn rewards that are specific to your child.
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How Much Does the Joon App Cost?
Joon costs $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually, with both plans offering a seven-day free trial. The only limitation during the free trial is the number of quests that can be approved. Reduced rates are available for families that are in need, but you must contact Joon directly to learn more.
How to Get Started with the Joon App
Getting started with the Joon app is as easy as downloading the Joon app from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or by clicking “Download App” directly on the Joon Website. Joon also has a user tutorial that makes getting started super easy.
To get started, follow these easy steps:
- Create a parent account after downloading the app and answer basic information about yourself and a brief questionnaire to learn more about your family’s goals.
- Next download the Joon Pet Game by either sending a link to your child’s device or downloading it on your own.
- Link accounts with the Login Code provided in the parent app.
- Choose which subscription plan you want, with the monthly or annual plan.
Joon App Key Features
Joon ADHD app offers interactive games, progress tracking, virtual pet care, customizable difficulty levels, and rewards. Parents can adjust game difficulty and the reward system reinforces positive behavior. Joon ADHD app provides a fun way for children with ADHD to improve their skills. Joon costs $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually, with both plans offering a seven-day free trial.
Virtual Pet Care and Interactive Games
The Joon ADHD app includes a virtual pet, called a Doter, that children can care for and nurture by completing tasks and earning rewards. This feature adds an element of fun and responsibility to the app, encouraging children to stay engaged and motivated. The app offers a variety of interactive games designed to improve executive functioning skills such as attention, memory, and planning.
Personalized Feedback and Progress Tracking
Joon provides personalized feedback to each child, allowing them to see their progress over time. As a parent, you can even write your own messages of encouragement, which can help improve your relationship. This feature helps to motivate children and keep them engaged in the learning process. There is also a weekly check-in for parents to complete focusing on the following skill areas: teamwork, focus, kindness, stamina, knowledge, and strength.
Customizable Difficulty Level and Frequency
The app allows parents to adjust the difficulty level of the games to match their child’s individual needs and abilities. You can also choose which child these quests belong to, and how often they need to be completed.
Rewards and Incentives
Joon offers a reward system that encourages children to complete tasks and progress through the app. This feature helps to reinforce positive behavior and can be a motivating factor for children with ADHD. It is important to note there are no in-app purchases that require the use of real money, outside of paying for the subscription.
Who Is the Joon App Right For?
Joon is a good fit for younger kids (6-12), children who have been diagnosed with or experience symptoms related to ADHD, and families with communication or relationship challenges.
Kids Ages 6-12
As a parent, you may feel burnt out and tired of asking or reminding your child to do the same tasks over and over again. With Joon, you can assign these tasks and have a reward system all in one. This helps you free up the mental load that comes with keeping tabs on everything that needs to get done. This also allows your child to develop healthy habits in a fun, interactive way.
Children Diagnosed With ADHD
Through speaking with Joon’s co-founders, only about 25% of its users report not having symptoms related to ADHD. While anyone can use the app, it is mainly designed for children with ADHD symptoms to help teach skills like organization, time management, and healthy habits related to hygiene, sleep, and eating, otherwise referred to as executive function. About 90% of Joon’s users complete all tasks assigned due to improved motivation and focus.
Families With Communication or Relationship Challenges
For some families, chores, routines, and being asked to do something can become a nightmare. Some children with ADHD can become combative and defiant when asked by a parent or teacher to do things they don’t necessarily want to do. These behaviors are especially true for children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Joon helps, in a sense, create a buffer between parents and their children, making completing things fun and rewarding, making it a win-win.
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Who May Want an Alternative to the Joon App?
Joon is a great app for children 6-12 years old, but teens and adults may find it too childish. Additionally, if your child or teen already has healthy, established routines Joon may not be as beneficial. Joon is also not intended as therapy or coaching and families seeking this type of care will need to find an alternative.
Teens and Adults With ADHD
While Joon may appeal to some adults with ADHD, like myself, others may find apps such as Habitica or Finch more their speed. Adults with ADHD may find apps that are more targeted to specific executive functioning such as: waking up earlier, time management, organization, or self-care.
For more information about apps that are a good fit for teens and adults, you can read our Best Mental Health Apps review.
Those With Healthy, Established Routines
While Joon is great at establishing and creating healthy routines, if you already have a system that works, Joon may not be beneficial. While it can be fun for your child to earn rewards and care for their virtual pets, it may feel like a burden to a parent to have to set up and consistently review quests.
Your Child Needs Therapy Or Behavior Coaching
Joon is not intended to be a replacement for therapy or behavioral coaching for children with ADHD. If you would prefer in-person care for your child, you can explore an online therapist directory to find a provider near you. If you’d prefer the convenience and ease of online therapy, exploring our best online therapy options for teens is another option.
Online Psychiatry and Medication Management Covered by Insurance
Talkiatry provides online care from real psychiatrists who specialize in treating children and adolescents. Take a short assessment to see if Talkiatry is right for your child.
Joon App Reviews by Users
Overall, it seems that users of the Joon app are pleased with the product, as evidenced by it’s 4.7 out of 5 star rating on the Apple App Store. No reviews have been written on Google Play Store as of yet due to still being considered in development, however, there have already been over 5,000 downloads via Google Play Store. Joon ADHD app has received a lot of positive feedback, but some users have reported issues. Many parents have raved about how helpful Joon App has been in helping their children become more motivated to get things done.
Many of the 1-star negative reviews were related to “sticker shock” and feeling as if the price is too high. Most negative reviews were expressing feelings of being scammed and pricing was unclear. Parents were disappointed and frustrated to find out the price after completing the questionnaire about their child.
Reviews from Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 stars | 5.6K reviews
Positive reviews from the Apple App Store include many parents feeling that the app improved their children’s motivation for chores and tasks. Many stated that their children were now excited to do chores for the in-app rewards. Users site the virtual coins as great reinforcements for children, especially when other methods have not worked.
Negative reviews from the Apple App Store include feeling that the app was too expensive. Many users enjoyed the free-trial but did not feel the price was justified to get a full subscription. Users also often stated in reviews that they were still charged even after canceling the free trial within the required time frame.
Reviews from Reddit | r/ADHDparenting
Positive reviews from Reddit include many users feeling that their children were more motivated to complete tasks and chores. Not only that, many parents say that the Joon app has created more engagement in chores for their children.
Negative reviews from Reddit include feeling that the app was overpriced and only good for a short period. Many parents stated that their children grew bored — and sometimes even frustrated — with the app.
Joon App Vs. Competitors
Cost: $12.99 monthly or $89.99 annually
Free Trial? Yes, 7 days
-
Makes habit-building fun -
Great customer service -
Templates for easy set-up -
A holistic approach to well-being
-
Only available on Apple devices -
No online gameplay/multiplayer gaming -
Optimized only for kids 6-12 years old -
Not intended as a therapy substitute
Cost: $4.99 – $9.99 monthly or $14.99 annually
Free Trial? Yes, 7 days for $9.99 monthly subscription
-
7-day free trial with $9.99 monthly subscription -
Reasonably priced -
Easy to use with great user interface
-
Only available on Apple devices -
Not every pricing plan comes with a free trial -
Few reviews on Apple App Store
Cost: Free – $3.99
Free Trial? There is a free version of the app available
-
Premium version is affordable -
Easy to use interface -
Good for morning and evening routines
-
Free version has limited content -
Can only add one child in the app -
App forces landscape mode on mobile devices -
Music at startup is very loud
Cost: Free -$47.99
Free Trial? There is a free version of the app available
-
Gamification can help you with habit building or productivity -
Social accountability through groups and challenges -
Multiple features for task management, goal-setting, and habit tracking
-
Can be overwhelming to get started -
Internet access is required to use the app at all -
The app is not updated as regularly as other apps
Cost: $24.99 monthly, $99.99 for 6 months, or $129.99 annually
Free Trial? No
-
Fun and engaging characters -
A medication-free alternative for adults with ADHD -
Good game design helps keep motivation and engagement up
-
Can be fast-paced and overwhelming for those unfamiliar with video games -
Smartphones only – no support for playing on PC -
The overall design could be seen as somewhat juvenile
Joon Vs. KidHab
Joon Vs. Happy Kids Timer
Joon Vs. Habitica
Joon Vs. EndeavorOTC
Final Verdict
Overall, the Joon App is worth it for any family that needs help with time management, organization, and day-to-day tasks. Joon offers a free seven-day trial and does great at supporting parents in getting started with assigning quests to their children. Joon App is a better choice than traditional family management apps for interactive games, virtual pet care, and rewards. As a therapist, and someone also diagnosed with ADHD, I recommend this app for parents with children who have ADHD.
History & News About Joon
- Year Founded: 2018
- Founders: Kevin Bunarjo and Brad Brenner
- Headquartered In: Laguna Niguel, CA
- Publicly Traded? No, Joon is a Private company.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Joon App co-founders, Kevin Bunarjo and Brad Brenner. Joon ADHD app was created in 2018 by a team of neuroscientists, game designers, and developers.4 The app is designed to improve executive functioning skills in children with ADHD, with personalized feedback and progress tracking. The team continues to update and improve the app regularly and their latest funding was raised on March 31, 2022 from a seed round.5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Joon App Free?
No, Joon is not free but does come with a seven-day free trial.
How Does My Child Access the Joon App?
Your child will access the Joon app by downloading the Joon Pet Game. Parents will connect the app by linking accounts with the Login Code provided in the parent app. There is no limit to how many kids’ accounts can be created or linked to your account.
How Do I Cancel My Joon App Subscription?
To cancel your Joon App subscription, click on the “Family” tab, then select “Manage Account” followed by “Manage Subscription” and click “Cancel Subscription.” Then, you will be redirected to your iOS Subscription Settings within the iOS settings app to cancel the active trial. Make sure to hit cancel once redirected, otherwise your trial will not be officially cancelled. You can also email [email protected] for any questions about your account.
Does Joon App Offer Refunds?
Yes, Joon does offer refunds in certain circumstances. Users who downloaded the app from Joon’s website can email support at [email protected]. Joon states that they have a 30-day money back guarantee. This guarantee goes into effect the first day that your trial ends and you convert into a paying user.
Users who downloaded the app from the Apple Store, however, must go through Apple for a refund. Make sure to cancel your subscription first! Apple cannot issue you a refund with an active Joon subscription.
Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Jiang, H., Natarajan, R., Shuy, Y. K., Rong, L., Zhang, M. W., & Vallabhajosyula, R. (2022,March 4). The use of mobile games in the management of patients with attention deficit hyperactive disorder: A scoping review. Frontiers in psychiatry. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8931195/
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Zhang, M., & Ranganath, V. (2022, December 9). An emotional bias modification for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Co-design study. JMIR formative research. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9789490/
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Peñuelas-Calvo I; Jiang-Lin LK; Girela-Serrano B; Delgado-Gomez D; Navarro-Jimenez R; Baca-Garcia E; Porras-Segovia A; (n.d.). Video games for the assessment and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. European child & adolescent psychiatry. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32424511/
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Joon: The to-do app for kids with ADHD. Y Combinator. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/joon#:~:text=Isaac%20Eaves%20is%20the%20co,and%20Kevin%20Bunarjo%20in%202021
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Joon app, Inc. – Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding. Crunchbase. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/joon-motivate-your-kids
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Lena Suarez-Angelino, LCSW (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Changed the “Competitors” section to an updated list of ADHD apps (Added: Happy Kids Timer, Habitica, and EndeavorOTC), and fact-checked and edited for improved readability and clarity.
Author: Lena Suarez-Angelino, LCSW (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Added summary block and star rating breakdown
Author: Lena Suarez-Angelino, LCSW
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D.
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