Reframe is a mindful drinking app that helps users track their alcohol consumption, build healthy coping skills, attend live coaching, and set personalized goals. After using it for a few weeks, I found its features incredibly helpful for those aiming to drink mindfully. Though its cost structure was confusing, it earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review.
Editor's Notes
We regularly review and update our content to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information. In this round of updates, little has changed in the mindful drinking space—pricing, features, and availability remain largely the same. Reframe continues to be our top recommendation for best overall mindful drinking app.
Reframe At a Glance
Pros & Cons of Reframe
- Each program is tailored to fit individual drinking habits.
- Includes tools to help fight off cravings
- Straightforward onboarding process
- Hosts daily virtual meetings via Zoom
- No free version
- Subscription costs are hidden until after registration
- The different options for meetings, groups, and coaching can be confusing
- Difficult to find background on coaches
Preview Reframe
The Reframe app is designed to help users become more aware of their drinking habits, reduce consumption, or quit alcohol entirely. With tools for tracking, goal setting, and high-quality educational content, I found it to be an excellent resource for building mindful drinking habits. Thanks to its robust features, the app earned a 4.5 out of 5-star rating in my review.
Reframe is free to download and offers a 7-day trial, after which a subscription costs $100 annually. Additional coaching services — whether one-on-one or in group sessions — are available at an extra cost, ranging from $49.99 to $249.99 per month.
One of the standout features was the app’s toolkit, which I used frequently. Mindfulness exercises and mocktail alternatives helped manage cravings, while daily readings provided insightful topics on alcohol’s impact on the body and mind. I also appreciated the mood, appetite, and stress trackers, which made it easy to see how alcohol affected different aspects of my well-being.
Although Reframe is available nationwide and offers impressive tools, its price is higher than some competitors, such as Sunnyside, which costs $12 – $36 monthly for similar features like coaching and tracking. It’s also important to note that Reframe is not intended for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or those experiencing withdrawal symptoms. For anyone with severe alcohol dependency, professional treatment is recommended. Online programs like Workit Health and Ria Health offer medically assisted treatment (MAT) for addiction and may be better suited for those needs. For more options, check out our full list of the best addiction recovery apps.
Detailed Review of Reframe
The Reframe app is a mindful drinking app that costs $100 annually for base features, and up to $249.99 monthly if you add in individual coaching services. It includes many features ranging from daily alcohol consumption check-ins, educational and motivational tools, and community support through message boards and virtual meetings with other people looking to cut back on their drinking. Individual and group coaching are also available in the app to help users on their journey towards mindful drinking or sobriety. The daily tracking of health outcomes such as mood, appetite changes, and stress levels helps users gain insight into how alcohol – or the lack thereof – impacts daily functioning.
Continue reading for a description of our reviewer’s experience.
Review our scoring criteria for mindful drinking apps.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Mindful Drinking
Mindful drinking is a phrase that has gained traction in the mental health field in recent years. It represents the idea that alcohol consumers can become more self-aware of how alcohol impacts daily functioning and mental health. Reframe helps app users keep track of their daily drinks, set goals to either reduce or quit alcohol consumption and have access to a vast community of support. App users can pick one of two tracks – either “cut back” where the app users’ goal is to reduce alcohol intake without stopping altogether, or “quit” where the goal is to become completely sober from alcohol.
The sign-up process for the Reframe app was straightforward; users download the app and enter demographic information such as gender, age, relationship status, and environment (country, suburbs, or city). After this, app users will answer questions about their goals, past successes with mindful drinking, data on how many drinks per week they have, and how much money is spent weekly on purchasing alcohol. Other signup information needed included details on the type of alcohol users typically consume, reasons for drinking, and how drinking impacts users’ daily functioning and relationships.
Daily Tasks
The first section of the app that users will be introduced to is the Daily Task section. In this area of the app, users can complete their daily assignments, which include reading educational articles and then following journaling prompts that align with the article topic. There are also motivational quotes each day to help app users stay motivated and positive.
The Daily Task section is where I logged my daily drinks and completed monthly challenges. My first monthly challenge was to focus on mental health and included informational readings such as how screen time can impact mental health, how food is linked to higher rates of inflammation and anxiety, and how exercise can help with alcohol cravings.
I found the daily readings to be important in my mindful drinking journey, as they addressed topics I would not have considered to play a role in my drinking. Some of my favorite topics included how alcohol impacts the neurotransmitter dopamine – which is responsible for those feelings of happiness and pleasure – and how this impacts functioning long-term. It also addressed the hedonic setpoint, or, a person’s natural happiness level.
The Reframe app gave me valuable information on how alcohol can stimulate happiness in the short-term, and how this rise in happiness is only temporary; eventually, we have a crash and an overall decrease in happiness long-term and our hedonic setpoint can decrease as well. This was all very fascinating to me, as it gave insight into the chemical processes that occur at the brain level and made me think of my relationship with alcohol in a new light.
Toolkit
One of the best features of the Reframe app is the Toolkit section. This area of the app gives users some great tools and coping skills to fight off cravings and find alternatives to alcohol, such as mocktail recipes that do not include alcohol. Melody, the AI chatbot in the app, can also be found in this section.
My favorite part of the Toolkit was the cravings mode that users can access. This gives individuals the ability to play games as distractions such as Tetris, a memory card game, and a game called Flying Hippo. Intrigued by this last one, I entered craving mode and fired up the game. It was very Flappy Bird-esque for those who remember the hit mobile game of 2013. In the Flying Hippo game – as the name suggested – users tapped on the screen to make a cartoon hippo dodge obstacles. I was surprised at how much time I spent playing – and replaying once I hit an obstacle – and how this helped distract me from any cravings to drink. Cravings mode lasts 20 minutes, but users can end this sooner. You are then asked if you were able to resist the cravings or if you did end up drinking.
Features of the Reframe app Toolkit include:
- Games
- Guided meditations
- Breathing exercises
- Informational videos
- Motivational music
Community & Support
The Reframe app seems to prioritize users building a community within the app and also offers options for group coaching sessions, which happen via Zoom meetings with a coach and fellow Reframe app users. There is also a social media aspect that allows users to post in a forum with other Reframe app users. Common topics in these posts included motivational quotes, updates on a person’s journey, and sharing of challenges and successes.
In using Reframe, I was surprised to see that the forum was very active with dozens of posts each day. One downside that I could anticipate within the Reframe app is the ability to private message any other user in the app, with seemingly no moderation in these private messages. Any other Reframe app user could message me, and vice-versa, and I was unable to find any privacy settings to change this.
Individual Coaching Sessions
Reframe also offers individual coaching sessions, which cost $249.99 monthly and include three live sessions via Zoom, along with unlimited messaging with the coach outside of the live sessions. Users can also sign up for a la carte coaching sessions for $79.99 per session. These a la carte sessions are only one 45-minute live session with a coach and do not include the unlimited messaging that the $249.99 monthly plan includes.
I attended my first one-on-one coaching session with an open mind and was unsure what to expect. I was pleased that my coach logged in on time (an issue I experienced with the group coaching session), and was very personable right out of the gate. We started the 45-minute session by talking about my overall goals for my mindful drinking experience, and my goals for the coaching sessions. My coach, Jaqueline, told me a little about herself and her journey toward sobriety, and we brainstormed on alternatives to alcohol consumption and avoidance tactics during moments of cravings. At the end of the session, Jaqueline also offered to check in with me a few times per week via messaging in the app to make sure I felt supported. Overall, I enjoyed the session and found it to be helpful to have someone to talk to about triggers, sleep patterns, relationships, and goals to help keep me motivated on my mindful drinking journey.
Group Coaching Sessions
Customer Support
When exploring prices for coaching sessions, I turned to Reframe’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot named Melody to assist me. I was pleasantly surprised that the AI chatbot was able to respond to me in real-time and answer questions that I had. First, I had Melody direct me toward the group coaching session section and then expressed to her that I was struggling with cravings and asked for coping skills. The bot was able to give me suggestions for things like deep breathing and distraction techniques. I also wanted to go back and re-read some of the Daily Tasks readings, and turned to Melody to help me. She directed me to the section where I could revisit articles already read (which are in the Daily Task section); overall, I appreciated the AI chatbot’s quick response times and ability to interpret my questions with a relatively high understanding.
As for customer support of the human variety, users can go to the “Me” section of the app and navigate to “Feedback” to report bugs within the app, suggest improvements, or ask questions. I tested the “Ask A Question” functionality, and was surprised to see it drafted an in-app message to be sent to customer support; it also gave me the option to add screen recordings or upload other images. Probably the neatest feature of customer support was the “shake your device” function; users can simply shake their mobile device on any page in the app and it will automatically pull up the customer support page. I was also impressed by its ability to grab a screenshot of the current page users are on when they shake their device, making uploading screenshots to support very easy. I did use this feature to change coaches, as the first one I selected to sign up with had limited availability. Support emailed me back within the day and offered me other options for coaches with more openings.
How Much Does the Reframe App Cost?
The Reframe app costs $100 annually for its base subscription, with a 7-day free trial offered upon download. There were also two types of in-app credits – one called Reframe Credits which can be purchased and exchanged for Support Circles meetings, and one called Recoins which can be earned and exchanged for things such as educational courses within the app, company apparel, and other items.
Reframe Credits require real-world money to replenish, but users are given 50 free credits at sign-up. The cost of more Reframe Credits is $4.99 for 50 credits, $8.99 for 100 credits, or $12.99 for 150 credits. Most Support Circle meetings cost 30 Reframe credits to join. Recoins, on the other hand, are earned by completing tasks in the app such as completing all of the daily task items, checking into the app each day, completing a Reframe Challenge, or inviting friends to join the Reframe app. It was because of this complicated pricing system that the Reframe app only scored 2 out of 5 stars in the Cost & Free Trial Periods scoring section.
Reframe app costs include:
- Base membership ($100 annually) – Includes all base features such as the Toolkit, educational readings and blogs, cravings mode, daily trackers, and the community forum.
- 1:1 Coaching sessions ($249.99 monthly, or $79.99 a la carte) – The monthly coaching plan includes three 1:1 45-minute live sessions with a coach each month, plus unlimited messaging with a coach. A la carte sessions include one 45-minute live session with a coach, but
- Group Coaching sessions ($49.99 monthly) – Includes weekly 60-minute live sessions with a coach and other Reframe users.
- Messaging sessions ($99.99 monthly) – Includes unlimited messaging with coach but excludes live sessions
Who Does Reframe Serve?
The Reframe app serves adults who are struggling with alcohol intake and offers support and tools to either curb drinking or cut out alcohol completely. Reframe is available in all 50 states in the U.S. and is inclusive of all genders and orientations. Reframe does not serve individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or those going through active detox or withdrawal symptoms. Reframe should not be used in place of alcohol abuse treatment or mental health services.
User Reviews
Overall, there is a consensus on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store that the Reframe app is very useful and has some wonderful benefits and features such as access to coaches, advanced tracking options for alcohol and mood, and great in-app support. Negative reviews highlight users being charged for a subscription even when canceling before the end of the trial period. App reviewers also often felt that the app was very pricey, with many hidden costs after signup.
Reviews from Apple App Store | 4.8 out of 5 stars | 32.3K reviews
- Positive reviews from the Apple App Store include user reports that the Reframe app saved their lives and changed their mindset toward alcohol. Many reviewers liked the daily check-ins and noted that the app was easy to use and was not a huge stressor or time-consuming commitment.
- Negative reviews from the Apple App Store include complaints about the cost and reports that they were often still charged the $119.99 even after canceling their subscription before the 7-day free trial ended. Users also frequently complained that the app was very cluttered and the vast amount of content can quickly become overwhelming.
Reviews from Google Play Store | 4.5 out of 5 stars | 51 reviews
- Positive reviews from the Google Play Store include also stating that the Reframe app changed their lives and their relationships with alcohol. Many reviewers love the toolkit section and the access to coping skill suggestions.
- Negative reviews from the Google Play Store include complaints about the usage of in-app credits to purchase courses and other in-app content. Some reviews referenced bugs and app crashes that happen on Android devices. One review also didn’t like that the app asks too many questions and won’t disclose the actual price until all information has been gathered.
Reviews from Trustpilot | 2.3 out of 5 stars | 20 reviews
- Positive reviews from Trustpilot include liking the many options for group meetings and the community support options. Other Trustpilot reviewers spoke about the usages of the mindfulness exercises and the articles that offer educational topics.
- Negative reviews from Trustpilot include complaints about the cost of the app and the fact that many users were charged the full yearly fee even if canceling ahead of the end of the 7-day free trial. Other users were also not happy with the refund policy, which requires users to contact Apple or Google to get a potential refund.
Reviews from Reddit | r/sober, r/stopdrinking
- Positive reviews from Reddit include high praise for the tracking options and daily readings, and even referenced that the cost was more than reasonable for the amount of content that users have access to.
- Negative reviews from Reddit include that users have to check in daily and commit time to the app to gain its full benefits. Likewise, there were a few reviews that cited the cost as a downside of the app.
Alternatives & Competitors
Reframe is designed to help users reduce or quit alcohol, but it may not be the best fit for those managing multiple addictions, such as alcohol, drugs, or nicotine. For multi-addiction support, I Am Sober offers tools to track up to two habits on its free plan and up to ten with a premium membership. Depending on individual needs, users can explore a variety of apps tailored to different addiction recovery goals.
Here are several alternatives that might better serve your needs:
Best for Alcohol Tracking - Sunnyside
The major differences between Reframe and Sunnyside are the pricing, communication methods with coaches, and the amount of content available in the apps. Reframe is more expensive than Sunnyside but has many more features and support options available to users. Sunnyside’s main method of communication between users and either AI coaches or human coaches was through text messaging, meaning that users didn’t necessarily have to even open the app to track their alcohol consumption.
Overall, both Reframe and Sunnyside are good options for people who want to be more mindful of their alcohol consumption. Reframe offers more options for meetings and educational content but does come with a higher price tag.
Pros & Cons
- 15-day free trial included
- Track alcohol consumption and receive support through SMS texts
- Various options for logging daily drinks
- Community forum to engage with other users and coaches
- No access to free content
- Progress tracking becomes available after logging for 7 consecutive days
Best for Multiple Substances - I Am Sober
Price: $9.99 monthly; $119.88 annually
Free Trial: Yes, 7 days
Platforms: iOS & AndroidPrice: $9.99 monthly; $119.88 annually
Free Trial: Yes, 7 days
Platforms: iOS & Android
Reframe and I Am Sober differ significantly in both cost and content. Reframe costs $100 monthly with additional costs for coaching with a 7-day free trial, while I Am Sober offers a free version and a premium upgrade for $9.99 per month or $119.88 annually. In terms of focus, Reframe is specifically designed to help users reduce or quit alcohol. In contrast, I Am Sober allows users to track multiple habits and substances, making it a more versatile option for those managing various addictions.
Pros & Cons
- The free version of the app has plenty of content
- Users can track various substance and behavior addictions.
- Available on both Apple and Android devices
- The note-taking section has a limited character count
- Limited amount of educational content
- Limited library of motivational packs, which means they often repeat for long-time users
- Paid version may seem unnecessary
Best for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) - WEConnect Health
Price: $40.00 monthly or $350.00 annually
Free Trial: There is a free version
Platforms: iOS & Android
Reframe specifically states on its website that the app is not designed to treat Alcohol Use Disorder. If you struggle with alcohol dependence, apps like WEConnect Health may be a better option. WEConnect hosts free sobriety support meetings via Zoom multiple times throughout the day. If you’re looking to treat AUD in person with a licensed mental health professional, using our online therapist directory can help you find a specialist in your area.
Pros & Cons
- Free version of the app is available
- Virtual meetings are offered multiple times a day
- Offers specialty meetings, such as for the LGBTQ+ community, women, harm reduction, and family and loved ones
- Can be difficult to figure out how to add new task
- Subscription prices aren’t initially clear
- User interface is somewhat outdated
Best Free App - Try Dry
If users are looking for a mindful drinking app but are on a tight budget, TryDry is a free alternative. TryDry still lets users track their daily alcohol intake, set goals, and track how much money has been saved by avoiding or reducing alcohol consumption. Many users, according to reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, stated they downloaded TryDry for Dry January but kept using it throughout the year. While Reframe costs $100 annually, Try Dry is 100% free to download and use. TryDry is a UK-based company that uses the metric system for measuring units such as milliliters of alcohol consumed, which may not be the unit of measurement some users are used to. Reframe provides live, interactive video sessions with a coach, while TryDry keeps things simple with daily coaching emails delivered straight to your inbox.
Pros & Cons
- 100% free to access
- Monitors additional metrics like saved money, skipped calories, and changes in sleep, energy, and mood
- Offers a journaling tool for personal reflections
- Makes it easy to track progress over time
- Lacks peer support features like community groups or forums
- Limited educational resources available
- In-person services only offered within the U.K.
History & News About Reframe
Year Founded: 2018
Founders: Ziyi Gao, Vedant Pradeep
Reframe was founded in 2018 by Ziyi Gao and Vedant Pradeep. The initial idea for the app was for hypoglycemia detection, but the founders shifted course once they realized that similar products already existed. Reframe’s inception came from Gao and Pradeep taking a course together at the Georgia Institute of Technology; both went on to graduate from the university with degrees in industrial engineering, chemical engineering, and computer engineering. After scrapping the idea of hypoglycemia tracking, the two wanted the app to be used for the management of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), a disorder that Pradeep himself suffered from.
Now with its headquarters in Atlanta, Reframe garnered attention from Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X program, which helps develop startups. Likewise, Gao and Pradeep also approached doctors at both Emory University and Johns Hopkins University, where it was identified that the app would be best used for tracking and managing alcohol intake. In an interview with Georgia Tech, Gao spoke on the shift to target alcohol consumption and stated, “We realized early on that we were out of our depth, but we drew strength from reaching out to experts in this space, talking to at least 500 people,”3. With over 3 million downloads since its launch in 2020, Reframe’s shift towards mindful drinking seems to have been the right move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reframe?
Reframe is a mindful drinking app that allows users to set their intentions around alcohol consumption, set goals, and track daily habits such as drinking and mood.
Does the Reframe App Work?
Yes, the Reframe app works well for mindful drinking habits or alcohol consumption reduction. Reframe states on its site that, “91% of Reframe users report a substantial decrease in alcohol use within 3 months, and 81% Reframe users noted substantial decrease within 2 months.”2
How Much is the Reframe App?
$24.99 monthly or $119.99 annually, with a 7-day free trial. Premium membership includes a 1:1 coaching pass for $249.99 monthly, a messaging pass for $99.99 monthly, a one-time coaching session for $79.99 per session, or a group coaching pass for $49.99 monthly.
Is the Reframe App Free?
No, the Reframe app is not free. The Reframe app costs $24.99 monthly or $119.99 annually but does offer a 7-day free trial of the base functions. Coaching sessions do cost extra. Users can opt out of the 7-day free trial and pay $4.99 for their first month and then get a discounted rate of $9.99 monthly thereafter.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Reframe?
No, Reframe does not accept HSA/FSA or any other health insurance options.
Does Reframe Issue Refunds?
No, Reframe does not offer refunds. Any refund requests must be handled through the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
What States Is Reframe In?
The Reframe app is available in all 50 United States.
Is Reframe HIPAA-Compliant?
Yes, Reframe is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA compliant.
How Do I Change My Weekly Target on Reframe?
To change the weekly target for the number of drinks, simply navigate to the Daily Tasks section in the app and click on “View All” in the Drink Calendar where you can then press “Edit” to change your weekly goal or target for number of drinks.
Which is Better, Reframe or Sunnyside?
For users wanting a big overhaul of their alcohol habits or insights into their driving habits, Reframe is the better app. However, Sunnyside would best serve those looking for a more cost-effective app or who are just starting on their mindful drinking journey.
What Is The Difference Between Reframe & I Am Sober?
The Reframe’s app base subscription is not free and costs $24.99 monthly or $119.9 annually, whereas I Am Sober has both a free version and a premium subscription at $9.99 monthly or $119.88 annually. I Am Sober also offers tracking of other habits and substances.
Is Reframe Focused on Quitting Alcohol or Cutting Back?
The Reframe app offers both cut-back and quit tracks when setting a goal around alcohol intake.
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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American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
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Reframe. (n.d.). Reframe Home Page. Reframe. Retrieved from: https://www.joinreframeapp.com/
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Dixon, B. (2022). Engineering Alumni Create Reframe App to Reduce Alcohol Abuse. School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Retrieved from: https://chbe.gatech.edu/news/2021/04/engineering-alumni-create-reframe-app-reduce-alcohol-abuse
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: Chelsey Church, M.S. (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited entire article for improved readability and clarity, and reviewed recent Apple and Google reviews to update user ratings. Apple App Store reviews rose from 31.8K reviews to 32.3K reviews; Google Play Store reviews rose from 47 reviews to 51 reviews; all overall scores for user reviews remained the same.
Author: Chelsey Church, M.S. (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated article to new style format. Fact-checked and edited entire article for improved readability and clarity, and reviewed recent Apple and Google reviews to update user ratings. Updated pricing for Reframe (from $24.99 monthly to $100 annually).
Author: Chelsey Church, M.S.
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D.
Primary Changes: Fully reviewed Reframe app, rewrote entire article based on new review experiences, reformatted entire article to new format. New content written by Chelsey Church, MS, and medically reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.
Author: Randi Sprintis, M.S. (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Added key takeaways, updated final verdict, and updated user reviews to reflect reviews from Android users.
Author: Randi Sprintis, M.S.
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D.
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