Sunnyside is a mindful drinking app. It offers SMS support, chat-based coaching, and an AI chatbot to help you track and/or cut back on alcohol. With plans costing between $12 – $36 monthly — plus a free 15-day trial — it’s a convenient tool for daily drink management. Even though it doesn’t offer live, face-to-face coaching, it still scored 4 out of 5 stars in our review.
Editor's Note
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. Sunnyside continues to be our top recommendation for alcohol tracking.
Sunnyside App At a Glance
Cost: $12 – $36 monthly
Free Trial? Yes, 15 days
Platforms: iOS & Android
Pros & Cons
Pros - 15-day free trial
- Log drinks and get support via SMS texts
- Multiple ways to track daily alcohol intake
- Community space to connect with users and coaches
Cons - No free features
- Progress tracking unlocks after 7 consecutive days of logging
Preview Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a mindful drinking app where users can set goals around their drinking habits and track their daily consumption. The app is available on both Apple and Android devices and costs up to $298 annually with a 15-day free trial period. Users of the Sunnyside app have access to daily tracking, coaching through SMS text messages, and monthly challenges to help meet their goals toward alcohol intake. Because of the ease of use and quality of resources, we gave the app 4 out of 5 stars.
Though I have used other apps with more features, Sunnyside is an excellent option for those just beginning their mindful drinking journey, as it offers easy-to-use tracking features. I was impressed with the text messaging options that the Sunnyside app provided but was disappointed that not all features in the app were readily available. The Sunnyside app offered great alcohol tracking along with personalized coaching options.
If users are looking for a more personalized experience with live coaching sessions and group meetings, Reframe offers a more robust mindful drinking curriculum. Likewise, Sunnyside only allows tracking of alcohol consumption and no other substances. Those looking to track other habits or substance use will be better served by I Am Sober. For more options read our full list of the best mindful drinking apps.
Detailed Review of Sunnyside
The Sunnyside app is designed to help adults gain awareness of their drinking habits and make meaningful changes to their alcohol consumption. With memberships ranging from $12 monthly to $298 annually, Sunnyside offers SMS-based coaching, daily reminder texts, monthly challenges, and user-friendly tracking tools. While it lacks features like mood or appetite tracking, it scored 4 out of 5 stars in our review, making it a valuable resource for those seeking a healthier relationship with alcohol.
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 the concept that people do not have to be 100% sober from alcohol to have healthier habits. Mindful drinking encourages drinkers to think more critically and become more aware of their patterns and behaviors around alcohol. Sunnyside aims to help app users examine their relationship with alcohol and set intentions, whether it be to simply cut back on drinking or abstain from it altogether.
Alcohol Tracking Options
Sunnyside allows users to track their daily consumption of alcohol. The tracking feature within the app was easy to use and allowed me to set my goal for how many drinks per day I wanted to allow myself, track if I hit or missed that target, and have a place to write any notes that I had on the day. While this feature alone was quite ordinary, it was the ability to text your drink amount and have it log for you that stuck out to me.
To set this up, I first had to navigate to the Coaching section of the app, click on a pre-typed message that I could text to a coach, and then was re-routed to my phone’s messaging app where I could then send the message. After this, I received an automated text explaining how to track alcohol consumption through texts and emojis. It prompted me to test it out by sending either the beer mug emoji or the wine glass emoji; I chose the wine glass, texted it back, and soon got confirmation that the glass of wine was recorded in my daily intake.
I also had the option of texting phrases such as, “I had 2 beers,” and it would record this for me in the Sunnyside app’s tracking system. One of the texts sent to me by the automated system explained that the system could recognize and differentiate between the emojis of a wine glass, beer mug, cocktail, or spirit and that any other drink emoji would work. I tested this by sending both the glass of milk emoji and the coffee cup emoji; neither of these drink emojis were recognized or recorded by the system.
Eventually, I received a text stating, “Hey Chelsey, thanks for reaching out. Just so you know, you only need to track drinks containing alcohol. No need to text anything non-alcoholic!” This actually made me laugh, as the text came from the coaching number and I imagined someone on the other side also laughing at me trying to track milk consumption.
Sunnyside texts also were sent to me at the start of the morning to ask to confirm how many drinks I ended up having the prior day. I simply responded with the number and it was added to my tracker. If I had already hit my target number of drinks for the day, the system sent me a reminder text stating that I was at my limit until the next day. Overall, I found this tracking system to be useful; I didn’t have to open the app to track drinks, which was especially helpful if I already had my texting app open.
Community & Support
The Sunnyside app also offers community support by way of social media and forum posts. These features allow Sunnyside users to connect with others on the app and share updates on their goals, offer words of encouragement, or talk about struggles they have had along their mindful drinking journey.
Community support through forums and social media posts are more features in Sunnyside’s app that help users connect with other individuals and find support. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of interaction on the app in their Community section; many Sunnyside app users would post about their wins for the week, barriers to completing their goals, or their journal prompt responses on the public forum.
One feature I liked about the community support was the ability to upload my week with my targets and whether or not I met those goals. Overall, the support from other users was very positive and encouraging; I felt it was a generally safe space to talk about my challenges and successes.
Monthly Challenges in the Sunnyside App
Users of the Sunnyside app can also complete monthly challenges. I was disappointed to find that the app only offered three different challenges to complete. The options included “Fully dry challenge” where I would have to remain alcohol-free for 30 days, “Weeknight dry challenge” where I would only drink on Saturdays or Sundays for 30 days, and “Drink 50% less challenge” where my targets for the month would be cut in half.
Once I selected one – I went with Drink 50% Less – I was asked to invite friends or family members to join the challenge with me by sending them either an automated text or copy a link to send to them. Anyone who joined would be considered in my “challenge team” and could also participate. Under each challenge, there were also forum posts of other users completing the challenge.
Text-Based Coaching
The coaching program is one of the more unique features of the Sunnyside app. Unlike other apps where coaches are available in-app or on video, Sunnyside utilizes SMS text messaging to connect users to coaches. I found this feature quite useful, and it was integrated very well. To get started, I went to the coaching tab in the app, which, in addition to the ability to write my own messages, had several options to send pre-written messages.
Pre-written coaching options include:
- “I am having a craving”
- “I’d like to learn how to get the most out of Sunnyside”
- “I need advice for staging on my drink plan today”
- “I’d like to celebrate a recent win”
- “I’m having a hard time and could use some support”
- “I’d like to help challenge my habits around drinking.”
Once I selected which message I wanted to send – I picked celebrating a recent win – the app redirected me to my text messaging app where I could then send it to a prefilled number. Within minutes, I had a text back from a coach asking me what the win was and congratulating me on the success. Sunnyside coaches were available around the clock to respond to messages. There was also an AI bot that sent daily text reminders for logging drinks, reminded me of my goal for the day, and sent a celebration text if I hit a milestone. I learned from a Sunnyside FAQ page that any questions or personal texts will prompt a response from a human coach.3
I also tried out more of the prewritten options for coaching messages and asked for support after having a hard time. In about 10 minutes I had a response, but it seemed like an AI-generated message – the coach didn’t give me a name or identify themselves as they had in previous messages that were from human coaches. Nonetheless, the message I received back offered good support and good coping skill suggestions such as reading, exercising, or listening to music.
Sunnyside App Cost
The Sunnyside app provides two membership options: regular plans priced at $12 monthly, $29 quarterly, or $99 annually, and premium plans available at $36 monthly, $89 quarterly, or $298 annually.
The premium membership offers faster access to coaching, longer, in-depth sessions, and live weekly Zoom calls with a coach. Members also receive personalized check-ins throughout the week, providing ongoing motivation, focus, and consistent support from the coaching team.
I was happy to see that there are no hidden fees or features that cost extra, whether it be real-world money or in-app credits like other mindfulness apps such as Reframe. The only fees that users should be mindful of are those that may apply to their phone plan, as Sunnyside does send SMS texts that may cost users an additional amount.
Who Does Sunnyside Serve?
The Sunnyside app is available in all 50 United States and serves adults ages 21+ who are on a path to more mindful drinking. Sunnyside best serves those just starting on their mindful drinking path, as it does not offer comprehensive educational articles and does not offer live support from coaches, as compared to competitors such as Reframe.
Likewise, Sunnyside is not a good option for people struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or those experiencing detox or withdrawal from alcohol. The app should not be used in place of alcohol abuse treatment or mental health services.
Workit Health and Ria Health are two online platforms that provide comprehensive support for people struggling with AUD and other addictive behaviors. Learn more in our full reviews of Workit Health and Ria Health. If your goal is to commit to total sobriety rather than cutting back, you might be better served by I Am Sober – learn more in our full I Am Sober review.
User Reviews
The Sunnyside app has garnered many positive reviews on the Apple App Store, with 4.7 out of 5 stars. Sunnyside was not available on Android devices until 2024, so while there are fewer reviews on the Google Play Store, they are still overwhelmingly positive. Users in Trustpilot rated the app 3.7 out of 5 stars.
Users liked the text-based coaching system but felt that the number of automated texts could quickly become overwhelming. There were complaints from Android users that the app had a lot of bugs and often crashed, but more recent reviews seem to show that the developers have fixed this common bug.
Reviews from Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 stars | 1.3K reviews
- Positive reviews from the Apple App Store about Sunnyside include users praising the tracking feature and feeling that the texting-based coach check-ins were very helpful. Many users cited that their reasons for using the app were to cut back on drinking instead of becoming sober.
- Negative reviews from the Apple App Store about Sunnyside include feeling that the text alerts were too frequent and felt like spam. Many users expressed they did not like that they had to give their phone number and Apple account information at sign-up.
Reviews from Google Play Store | 4.6 out of 5 stars | 88 reviews
- Positive reviews from the Google Play Store include reports that the app does not require users to set their goal to become sober and that the cut-back track is an option. Users also enjoyed the coaching and motivational texts that they received.
- Negative reviews from the Google Play Store include trouble logging in and using the app. Many users stated that when opening the app on Android devices, they were met with a blank screen or long load times to open the app. These issues seem to be resolved with recent updates and bug fixes by developers. Like Apple users, Android users also felt the number of text notifications felt excessive.
Reviews from Trustpilot | 3.7 out of 5 stars | 225 reviews
- Positive reviews from Trustpilot include app users liking the tracking options and availability of coaches via text message. Many users also liked the daily reminders that the app sends out.
- Negative reviews from Trustpilot include feeling that the sign-up process was too invasive, with the need to give a phone number. Many users also complained about the subscription fee processing even after canceling within the 15-day trial period. There is also a complaint about the app’s auto-renew.
Reviews from Reddit | r/SoberCurious, r/cutdowndrinking, r/stopdrinking
- Positive reviews from Reddit include liking the tracking options to see not only how much alcohol is consumed, but also how many calories and money is saved by cutting back.
- Negative reviews from Reddit include being disappointed that a lot of the coaching responses were AI-generated. Users were generally okay with the daily text reminders being AI-generated but preferred a human response when dealing with coaching topics such as motivation, cravings, and goals.
Alternatives & Competitors
The Sunnyside app only tracks alcohol consumption and does not give the user options to track other substances or habits. Likewise, the Sunnyside app should not be used as a replacement for mental health or substance abuse treatment, and should not be used if you are experiencing detox or withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or any other substances. Those who are looking for live one-on-one coaching will also not be served, as Sunnyside only offers asynchronous text messaging-based coaching.
Here are several alternatives that might better serve your needs:
Best for Personalized Coaching - Reframe
Price: $100 annually
Free Trial: Yes, 7 days
Platforms: iOS & Android
Reframe is a neuroscience-based app designed to help individuals reduce or quit alcohol consumption through personalized daily tasks, educational content, guided meditations, and a supportive community. It provides structured courses, daily check-ins, and one-on-one coaching options. It also offers one-on-one coaching for personalized guidance.
In contrast, Sunnyside focuses on mindful drinking by tracking consumption habits, setting moderation goals, and fostering a supportive community for lifestyle changes. Reframe appeals more to individuals seeking a structured and in-depth approach to managing their alcohol use.
To learn more, read our full Reframe review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - 7-day free trial
- Many scheduling options for coaching sessions and Support Circle Meetings
- Coping skills to battle cravings
- Mood, appetite, and stress tracking
Cons - Many hidden fees that are only shown after signing up
- In-app credits are required for many features and cost real-world money
- The app is very dense and can be hard to navigate
Best for Tracking Other Substances - I Am Sober
Price: $9.99 monthly; $119.88 annually
Free Trial: Yes, 7 days
Platforms: iOS & Android
I Am Sober is a sobriety tracking app designed to support individuals in overcoming various addictions, including alcohol, drugs, and other harmful habits. It offers tools like daily pledges, milestone celebrations, motivational messages, and access to a supportive community, with a focus on fostering accountability and building positive habits.
Unlike Sunnyside, which emphasizes mindful drinking by tracking alcohol consumption and encouraging moderation, I Am Sober is tailored for those seeking complete sobriety and applies to a broader range of addictions beyond alcohol. While Sunnyside focuses on lifestyle changes and mindful drinking, I Am Sober is best suited for individuals aiming to abstain completely and benefit from peer support and motivational tools in their recovery journey.
To learn more, read our full I Am Sober review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - The free version of the app has plenty of content
- Users can track many different addictions including substances and behaviors
- Available on both Apple and Android devices
Cons - 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 Wellness Tracking - Try Dry
Price: Free
Free Trial: App is free
Platforms: iOS & Android
Try Dry is a free app developed by Alcohol Change UK to support individuals in reducing or abstaining from alcohol, particularly during Dry January, but also throughout the year. It provides tools to track alcohol intake, calculate money and calories saved, set goals, and visualize progress with charts and milestones. Additionally, it allows users to monitor their well-being by tracking factors like sleep, mood, cravings, and energy levels.
Unlike Sunnyside that charges for regular and premium memberships, Try Dry caters to both moderation and complete abstinence with a more self-directed approach for free.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Free
- Available for both Apple and Android devices
- Free coaching emails
Cons - Many users complain about the usage of metrics units instead of standard (i.e. milliliter versus ounces)
- Focuses a lot on Dry January but can be used year-round
Best for Visual Reports - Drink Control
Price: $3.99 monthly
Free Trial: No
Platforms: iOS & Android
DrinkControl is a self-directed app that helps users monitor their alcohol intake by logging drinks, tracking expenses, and calculating calories consumed. It provides visual reports and comparisons against global health guidelines, empowering users to make informed choices about moderation.
In contrast, Sunnyside focuses on mindful drinking through personalized coaching, offering a more guided approach to reducing alcohol consumption. While DrinkControl appeals to users who prefer detailed tracking and analytics, Sunnyside is better suited for those seeking structured plans and behavioral guidance to achieve their drinking goals.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Less expensive than some other mindful drinking apps
- The alcohol tracking tool is available in the free version of the app
- Also tracks money and calories saved by not drinking
Cons - No educational tools or lessons
- No social media or community forums in the app
Why You Can Trust My Review
Based on my experience with the Sunnyside app, I can confidently say that it is an app worth downloading for anyone on a path to more mindful drinking. The features for tracking alcohol consumption and the SMS texting integration made using the app very easy and intuitive. Other mindful drinking apps may offer live coaching sessions, but Sunnyside’s asynchronous coaching is a great fit for busy users. Overall, I was impressed by the Sunnyside app and felt that the cost was worth it for those who are serious about their mindful drinking journey.
History & News About Sunnyside
Year Founded: 2020
Parent Company/Owner: Cutback Coach, Inc. – Nick Allen and Ian Andersen
Having grown up with parents in recovery from alcohol abuse, Sunnyside founder Nick Allen wanted to create an app that helps drinkers mindfully manage their consumption. Originally named Cutback Coach, the app was launched in 2020 after reports showed that the COVID-19 pandemic was increasing alcohol intake among Americans.1
In 2023, Sunnyside announced that they would be joining the artificial intelligence (AI) bandwagon and hired Steve Lloyd as Sunnyside app’s chief product and technology officer to help develop an AI system to respond to the app users in the form of coaching. This new feature came after Sunnyside was able to raise $11.5 million for funding the project.
Sunnyside states that overall, the app has helped over 200,000 people and that users cut back their alcohol intake by an average of 32%.2 A 2024 study published in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research reveals that personalized text messages can lead to a 33% reduction in alcohol consumption over 12 weeks, for those who are moderate or heavy drinkers.4
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sunnyside?
Sunnyside is a mindful drinking app where users can set goals around alcohol consumption and keep track of daily drinks.
Does the Sunnyside App Work?
Yes, the Sunnyside does work well for users who are looking to keep track of alcohol intake and setting intentions around their drinking habits.
How Much Does the Sunnyside App Cost?
Regular membership for the Sunnyside app costs $12 monthly, $29 quarterly, and $99 annually; premium membership costs $36 monthly, $89 quarterly, and $298 annually. There is no free version of the app.
Is the Sunnyside App Free?
No, the Sunnyside app is not free—subscription ranges from $12 to $298, depending on the membership type and subscription length, but it does offer a 15-day free trial period.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Sunnyside?
No, Sunnyside does not accept HSA for mental health or any other health insurance options.
Does Sunnyside Issue Refunds?
Yes, Sunnyside states in its Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Trust Pilot reviews that it will honor refund requests. Users can also cancel before the end of the 15-day trial period to avoid being charged the subscription fee.
What States Is Sunnyside In?
The Sunnyside app is available in all 50 United States.
Is Sunnyside HIPAA-Compliant?
No, Sunnyside doesn’t have policies that are consistent with HIPAA standards.
Learn more in Sunnyside’s Privacy Policy.
Which is better, Sunnyside or Reframe?
Reframe offers more features and live coaching sessions, whereas Sunnyside only offers live weekly Zoom calls with a coach for premium members. Overall, Reframe is better for those looking for a more intensive program, whereas, Sunnyside might be better for people just getting started with mindful drinking.
ChoosingTherapy.com 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.
-
Blackburn, B. (2021, December 29). App works to reduce drinking following nationwide increase during pandemic. KRQE Health News. Retrieved from: https://www.krqe.com/health/app-works-to-reduce-drinking-following-nationwide-increase-during-pandemic/
-
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2020). Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder. National Institute of Health. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder
-
Sunnyside. (2022). Is this just a bot or are there real people? Sunnyside FAQ. Retrieved from https://help.sunnyside.co/human-or-bot-HJ8gHAVUO
-
Sunnyside. (2024). Personalized text messages slash alcohol consumption by 33% on average in 12 weeks. https://www.sunnyside.co/blog/text-messages-slash-alcohol-consumption#:~:text=SAN%20FRANCISCO%2C%20CA%20%E2%80%93%20October%202,on%20average%20in%2012%20weeks.
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, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated article to new style format. Fact-checked and edited entire article for improved readability and clarity, reviewed recent Apple and Google reviews to update user ratings. Updated pricing for Sunnyside ($99.99 annually to $12 monthly, $29 quarterly, $99 annually for the basic plan; added pricing for premium membership at $36 monthly, $89 quarterly, $298 annually). Updated platform availability for Drink Control.
Author: Chelsey Church, MS (New Author)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (New Medical Reviewer)
Primary Changes: Added summary block and star rating breakdown, f>act checked and edited entire article for improved readability and clarity, reviewed recent Apple and Google reviews to update user ratings, updated images throughout article, and updated cost to reflect subscriptions costs are now $99.99 annually with no monthly subscription option.
Author: Randi Sprintis, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added key takeaways, updated user reviews, added details on the app’s new community feature.
Author: Randi Sprintis, MS
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
Your Voice Matters
Leave your own reviews!
Have you used an online therapy company? Have you tried an online psychiatry service? Do you use a meditation or mindfulness app? We’d love to hear about your experience!
We want to hear about the companies you love and the companies you wish you never used.
Leave your feedback for our editors.
Share your feedback on this article with ChoosingTherapy.com’s editors. If there’s something we missed or something we could improve on, we’d love to hear it.
Our writers and editors love compliments, too. :)
