The best mood tracker app makes checking in quick enough to do every day and shows patterns you'd miss on your own. Look at how fast a check-in is, what else you can log alongside your mood and how private your data stays. Ten apps follow in no particular order, plus how to use what you learn.
Tracking your mood sounds simple, but a few weeks of quick check-ins can reveal surprising links: low days after poor sleep, better days after a walk, or a dip at the same point every month. That's useful for you, and for any professional supporting you.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from two-tap diaries to tools built around CBT exercises or symptom tracking. Each description comes from the app's own website or store listing, re-checked today. If you prefer writing, my journaling ideas offer formats to try alongside an app.
Mood tracking apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or store listing describes a free app or free version, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Free versions usually include daily check-ins, with more stats or exercises in a subscription.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bearable | Symptom and mood tracker | Linking mood to sleep and symptoms | Yes |
| Clarity | CBT journal | Challenging unhelpful thoughts | Yes |
| Daylio | Micro diary | Two-tap daily check-ins | Yes |
| eMoods | Clinical mood chart | Reports to share with a doctor | Yes |
| Finch | Self-care pet app | Check-ins with a virtual pet | Yes |
| How We Feel | Emotion journal | Naming emotions precisely | Yes |
| Moodfit | Wellbeing toolkit | Mood plus exercises in one app | Yes |
| MoodTools | Low mood toolkit | Tools for low days | Yes |
| Pixels | Year-in-pixels tracker | A colour for every day | Yes |
| Stoic | Guided journal | Morning and evening reflection | Yes |
Ten mood tracking apps
Bearable
Best for: People managing a long-term health condition who want mood logged next to symptoms, sleep and medication.
Clarity
Best for: Overthinkers who want to log a mood and then work through the thought behind it with CBT-style prompts.
Daylio
Best for: Busy people who want to log a mood and activities in two taps without writing a word.
eMoods
Best for: Anyone whose doctor has asked for a daily mood chart, with a monthly report they can export and share.
Finch
Best for: Younger users who find a cute pet more motivating than charts when checking in on their feelings.
How We Feel
Best for: Anyone who struggles to put feelings into words and wants help naming emotions more precisely.
Moodfit
Best for: Self-improvers who want mood tracking alongside breathing, gratitude and thought exercises they can do in a few minutes.
MoodTools
Best for: People going through a low patch who want a mood log plus a safety plan and coping videos.
Pixels
Best for: Visual people who love seeing a whole year of moods as a grid of coloured squares.
Stoic
Best for: Journalers who want short morning and evening prompts that lift mood and ease stress.
What the NHS offers before you download anything
There's a free starting point many people miss. The NHS Every Mind Matters service offers a personalised Mind Plan: you answer 5 questions about how you're feeling and get a plan of small actions you can take.
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What that means for you: a tracker shows patterns, while a plan gives you things to try. Use both together, and remember that if low mood lasts or starts to affect everyday life, it's time to talk to your GP or call NHS 111.
Quick diaries, CBT journals or symptom trackers?
Quick diaries let you log a mood and a few activities in seconds, which is the easiest habit to keep. CBT-style journals guide you to notice and question the thought behind a feeling. Symptom trackers log mood next to sleep, medication, pain or cycles, which helps if you're managing a health condition and want to share data with a professional.
If you've never tracked before, start with the quickest option and add more detail later.
Making mood tracking useful
- Check in at the same time each day, such as before bed.
- Log one or two activities alongside your mood.
- Add a short note on days that feel different.
- Look back after a month for patterns.
- Try one small change based on what you see.
- Share the summary with your GP or therapist if it helps.
Patterns people often spot
- Sleep. Short nights show up as lower moods the next day.
- Movement. Walks and exercise often line up with better days.
- People. Time with certain friends lifts mood noticeably.
- Screens. Late-night scrolling can drag down the following morning.
Pairing a tracker with writing
Some days a number doesn't say enough. Keeping a few prompts handy for those days helps you unpack what's going on; my journal prompts for anxiety are gentle ones to start with. You don't need to write much; a few honest sentences on a hard day often make the pattern in your tracker easier to understand when you look back later.
Do you make a mood tracking app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a mood tracker
Choose the app that's fastest for you to use on a bad day, because those are the days that matter most. A lovely app with lots of features is no good if checking in feels like a chore when you're low.
Keep your data private and your expectations realistic. A tracker helps you notice; it doesn't replace talking to someone. If you notice a long run of low days, reach out to your GP, a friend or a support line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mood tracker app?
The best one is quick enough to use every day. Quick diaries suit most people; CBT journals and symptom trackers suit specific needs.
Are mood tracking apps free?
Most offer a free app or version with daily check-ins; extras are usually in a subscription.
Does tracking my mood help?
It can reveal patterns, such as links to sleep or activity, that help you make small changes.
What does the NHS offer?
Every Mind Matters offers a free personalised Mind Plan after 5 questions about how you're feeling.
Is my mood data private?
Check each app's privacy settings, export options and whether data stays on your device.
When should I get help?
If low mood lasts or affects everyday life, speak to your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency, call the emergency services.
