The Lasting app is a self-guided couples counseling tool that can help you and your partner improve communication skills. Despite being owned by the online counseling company, Talkspace, there are no live therapists or counselor interactions on Lasting. There is, however, an AI bot to help guide you through the app and various relationship-strengthening exercises. Lasting costs $29.99 per month, but offers reduced rate of $59.99 for three months and $89.99 for six months.
Pros & Cons
The Lasting app has great educational materials that are easy to understand and completed around your schedule. While there are live therapist-led Zoom workshops, there are no therapy sessions or interactions with counselors within the app. It may be a helpful tool for partners to use, but should not be considered a substitute for couples counseling.
Lasting App Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All of the educational materials are easy to understand and activities are quick to complete | The app calls itself couples counseling but there are no messaging or live therapy options |
| The Zoom workshops are led by licensed therapists or counselors and are on interesting topics like intimacy health and conflict resolution | Free version only has one learning module available for you and your spouse to complete |
| The learning modules, called “Series,” can be done independent of your partner, allowing you to complete them on your own schedule | The AI bot is basically a guided journal and does not respond to you the way other AI bots do |
| Adding your spouse or partner to your account is straightforward and not hard to do | |
| Would be perfect as a companion to in-person or online couples counseling |
Where to Download the Lasting App
Important Note: Currently there is a 50%-off discount for the Lasting app if you buy the annual plan, bringing the cost down to $89.99 a 12 month subscription. This offer does not appear to be available in-app, so visit the link above to take advantage of the discount.
For those with Apple products, you can download the Lasting app in the Apple App Store.
Android users can download the Lasting app in the Google Play Store.
What Is the Lasting App?
The Lasting app is a self-guided counseling tool geared towards couples who want to improve their communication skills. While it’s marketed as a couples counseling app, it’s important to note that there are no options to speak with a licensed therapist either asynchronous or in real-time, over messaging, phone or video.
The biggest feature within the app are “Series”, or learning modules, for couples to explore communication, sex, parenting, forgiveness, and other topics. Within each series, there are short sessions to complete which usually involve reading, short journaling, and quizzes. At the end of each session, you and your partner can compare answers with the goal of having an open and honest discussion.
Another big component of the Lasting app is the therapist-led workshops. Workshops can be attended alone or with your partner, and either live-streamed or on pre-recorded video. If you attend the workshops in real-time, you will join via Zoom and interact with the presenter through the chatbox. It is important to note that you will not be on camera during the live events.
While the bulk of the app is centered around educational materials, there are sections for mindfulness exercises, habit reminders, and an AI chatbot that offers daily relationship facts and tips. The Lasting app is easy to navigate, and while the workshops can be an hour or more, all other activities are quick to complete.
Lasting for Therapists
Lasting for Therapists offers free subscriptions to mental health professionals for the Lasting Marriage & Couples app. Counselors can use the app to assign homework for their clients, which can give their sessions more structure and clearly defined goals. When a counselor or therapist signs up, their clients will receive a discount code to use on their subscription fees.
Who Is The Lasting App Right For?
The Lasting app is a great tool for anyone in a relationship, for those couples with busy schedules, or to use alongside live couples counseling.
Relationships
The Lasting app is great for anyone who is in a relationship and wants to learn how maintain or create a healthy relationship with their partner or spouse. This also would be a great tool for those who are engaged and want to do some basic premarital counseling before walking down the aisle.
Busy Schedules
Couples who have busy schedules may find the Lasting app helps them reconnect and re-engage with each other throughout the week. All of the learning modules can be done independently of each other with the goal of discussing them together at a later date.
In Tandem with Therapy
The Lasting app is a great tool to use alongside in-person or online couples counseling. The learning modules can help you show up to counseling with specific things to talk about, like how to communicate effectively, how to de-escalate conflicts and more.
Alternatives to Lasting
While the Lasting app is a great fit for some, those who prefer live therapy, do not want relationship advice, or are under the age of 18 may want to seek out an alternative.
Live Therapy
If you are a couple seeking live online or in-person couples counseling, the Lasting app will not be a good match for you. While the Lasting app has great tools to help a relationship that needs a little bit of guidance, it is not a replacement for therapy.
Individual Counseling
If you want to improve on the way you communicate with others, but you do not want it centered around romantic relationships, you will want to find an alternative.
Age Restrictions
It is important to note that the Lasting app is intended for those 18-years and older.
Lasting App User Reviews
The Lasting App has high ratings in both app stores, with a 4.5-star rating from 7,000+ reviews in the Google Play Store and a 4.7-star rating from 21,000+ reviews in the Apple App Store. For a fairly new app, the reviews were overall positive with the negative reviews being fewer and far between.
Research-Backed Content
Users pointed out that relevant research is listed at the end of each section in the learning modules. This makes it feel like the activities are worth taking the time to do.
Long Distance Couples
Some users mentioned that the Lasting app was great for when they were traveling without their partner. The learning modules helped these couples feel connected and helped keep an open line of communication. As a military spouse, I can say with 100% certainty that an app like this would have been an invaluable tool during each of my spouse’s deployments.
Easy to Understand
Many people pointed out how easy everything is to understand and complete in the Lasting app. Activities are done at your own pace and there is no rush to complete the learning modules. People also pointed out that it was eye-opening to learn about your habits and how your partner views you.
Buggy App
Users reported some issues with the app crashing or randomly logging them out. The app also seemed to have issues sending sign-up codes to people’s partners, but the development team was very responsive to these complaints and encouraged users to email them for help.
Cancellation Problems
A couple of users noted that they canceled their subscription before the free trial ended, but ended up being charged anyway. Some that canceled their subscription before the next billing period were also charged. The development team was quick to respond to these complaints and encouraged people to email them for help.
Lasting App Cost
The Lasting app has a limited free version and a premium version that starts at $29.99 per month, $59.99 for three months, or $89.99 for six months. All subscriptions come with a seven-day free trial. It is important to highlight that the six-month subscription is available in the Apple App store only.
Important Note: Currently there is a 50%-off discount for the Lasting app if you buy the annual plan, bringing the cost down to $89.99 a 12 month subscription. This offer does not appear to be available in-app, so visit the link above to take advantage of the discount.
Is The Lasting App Free?
Yes, the Lasting app has a limited free version with select content available.
Lasting App Discount Chart
| Discount Type | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Free App | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Student Discount | No |
| Military Discount | No |
| COVID-19 Specials | No |
| Couples In Need | No, but email Lasting at [email protected] for information about how they can help |
Can I Use Insurance for the Lasting App?
No, the Lasting app does not take insurance at this time.
Can I Use My HSA or FSA for Lasting?
No, you cannot use your HSA/FSA funds to pay for the Lasting app.
Can I Cancel the Lasting App?
Yes, you can cancel anytime but must do so wherever you purchased your subscription.
If you purchased your subscription through the website, login to your account online and go to the “My Account” page. From here you can cancel your subscription.
If you paid through one of the app stores, login to your account and click on “Manage Subscriptions” or “Subscriptions” then click on the Lasting app and cancel.
If you have any issues or concerns, please email Lasting at [email protected].
Does Lasting Issue Refunds?
Lasting may provide refunds to those who purchase subscriptions through the Google Play Store. You must email Lasting with a copy of your purchase receipt or your Google Play Order Number (begins with GPA) at: [email protected]. If you purchased your subscription through the iTunes store, you must contact Apple for a refund. You can find more information on refunds with Apple here: https://support.apple.com/contact.
Please visit the Lasting website for more information about their Terms of Service.
Is the Lasting App HIPAA Compliant?
The Lasting app is not live teletherapy and no HIPAA agreement was required to sign up. Please visit the Lasting website for more information about their Privacy Policy.
Getting Started
The Lasting app is available in both the Google Play and the Apple App stores. You can also sign up for an account on the Lasting website, but you must ultimately download the app.
Step 1
Download the Lasting app from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store.
Step 2
All you need to sign up for an account is an email address and you create a password. You can choose to add your partner during sign up or you can choose to wait.
Step 3
You can choose to sign up for a subscription right away or you can choose to wait. If you sign up right away, you will have a seven-day free trial.
How Does Your Partner Join You in the Lasting App?
You can choose to add your partner right away during the setup process. You simply add their email address and Lasting will send them an email with a link to follow. After they download the app, they can set up their account, which links to yours. There can only be one main account holder.
Lasting App Free Version: Detailed Review
The Lasting app has a free version with limited content. You will have access to the Lasting Coach AI bot, one learning module, some mindfulness exercises, and a few ther educational materials.
Feature 1: “Home” Hub
The “Home” hub will give you access to app-recommended materials. Any learning series you have added, upcoming workshops, and your reminders can be found on this screen. A unique part of the “Home” hub is called “Today’s Conversation” and this is where you will interact with an AI bot, which calls itself the Lasting Coach.
The Lasting Coach basically gives you relationship tips, like why in a conflict the goal is not to win but to have a better understanding of your partner’s world. It will ask you to respond to a question and you are allowed to freely type what you want to. However, the Lasting Coach AI bot does not respond to anything you write in the chat box and it is better to view it as a guided journal.
Feature 2: “Library” Hub
In the free version the “Library” gives you access to one learning module called the “Foundations Series” which is five sessions long. It is a starter series and begins with you and your partner taking a relationship health quiz. At the end of the section, you can compare your quiz results with your partner, this is supposed to open the lines of communication with one another.
There is also a section in the Library called “Moments” and these are like exercises on topics like how to calm down, how to appreciate each other, and feature select mindfulness exercises like breathwork, body scan, and a grounding technique called “The Five Senses”.
You can also set daily reminders in the Library and they can help you remember to do things like give your partner a break from parenting, make your partner smile, or even just a reminder to plan your next date night.
Feature 3: “Activity” Hub
The Activity hub is fairly straightforward, as it is simply a list of everything you and your partner have completed in the app. If you tap on the items in the list, you will be taken to view that specific section.
Feature 4: “Profile” Hub
In the free version, you will be able to view all of the techniques you will learn throughout the app. These techniques are organized under two sections, one is called “Methods” and the other is called “Pitfalls”.
Methods are ways you can interact with your partner and how to incorporate that into your daily life. Some of these techniques with names like emotional calls, sex script, soft startup, and shared meaning. Each method will have a definition of what it is and where you will find the concept in the learning modules.
Pitfalls are similar to Methods but are more about the negative side of your personality. They cover concepts like contempt, emotional triggers, and emotional meltdowns and come with a definition of what it is and which learning module you will find them in.
Lasting App Premium: Detailed Review
The premium version of the Lasting app gives you full access to all of the learning modules and to the expert-led workshops.
Feature 1: “Library” Hub
All 30 of the learning series become available in the premium version of the Lasting app. These cover a wide range of topics from emotional intelligence and body image<, to parenthood and postpartum depression. Each one of these series has anywhere from five to 14 sessions, with each session taking no longer than six minutes to complete.
Feature 2: Workshops
All workshops in the Lasting app are led by licensed therapists or counselors. You can either attend live Zoom meetings or watch an on-demand video. If you attend a live Zoom meeting, you will not be on camera but you will be able to see the therapist as well as their presentation. A chat box is available for you to interact with the therapist and there is also a Q&A section for you to submit questions to be answered in the last 30 minutes of the meeting.
To start, the counselor or therapist will introduce themselves to you and give their background and where they are from. They will also go over the format of how the workshops run and what materials are needed, usually just a pencil and paper. All of the activities during the meeting happen throughout the sessions and take no longer than two minutes.
In the “Sexual Communication” workshop, our first activity asked us to share with each other a time when we felt closest to our partner in the past week. The I-Statement “I felt close to you when…..” was provided and all you had to do was fill in the blank. It was interesting to hear how integral consistent communication is needed to have good intimacy in your relationship.
Lasting App vs Relish
Both the Lasting app and the Relish app are geared towards those who want to improve their romantic relationships. The cost for both apps is relatively the same for a six month period, with Lasting costing $89.99 and Relish costs $99.99. However, Relish has the option for live one-on-one coaching for an additional cost of $39 per week and Lasting does not have live coaching at this time.
Lasting and Relish are based on attachment theory, with Relish also exploring the Five Love Languages. Each app offers learning materials for couples to complete and encourages you to do the work as a couple. And much like with the Lasting app, a subscription is good for two users. If you are looking for a more self-guided couples app then Lasting would be great for you. If you feel like you could benefit from extra support from a relationship coach then Relish would be a great option.
How It’s Changed
The Lasting app was founded by Steve Dziedzic with the help of his wife, Rebecca. While working at The Knotin 2016, Dziedzic decided to become a certified relationship educator and relationship health expert. The Lasting app was launched in 2017 with the help of psychotherapist Liz Colizza. 1
In November of 2020, Talkspace bought the Lasting app and placed Dziedzic as the Senior Vice President of Lasting. He continues day-to-day operations for the business but now reports to Talkspace’s Chief of Staff, Michaela Yule. 2
It looks like the Lasting app is starting to roll out a mental health and a parenting app. At this time, the details of what these apps offers are unclear and we will update when more information becomes available.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Lasting app is a really fun tool to use with your partner or spouse to learn better ways of communication. All of the activities are easy to complete and many of them are engaging and well worth the time.
While the live workshops are on really interesting topics, they cannot compete with the level of care you will get with a live therapist. Even though the subscription cost is a little high for one month, the seven-day free trial is definitely worth it.
