How to Choose the Perfect Mood Tracker App

A mood tracker app is a convenient digital tool that can help you better understand yourself and what causes your mood to shift. Gathering and examining this information can enhance your self-awareness and open you up to opportunities for positive change that support your mental and physical health. 

If you want more insight into how, when, and why your mood fluctuates, but you aren’t a fan of writing or journaling, a mood tracker app could be an especially great fit for you. 

How do I find the best mood tracker app for me?

If you’re looking for a mood tracker app, there’s no shortage of options. You can start by entering “mood tracker” into the search field of your phone’s app store. Then, narrow down the options by asking yourself the questions outlined below. 

Think about the features that are most important to you and ask yourself:

• Do you want to use the app to monitor symptoms of a specific condition?

• Do you want the option to track other health metrics besides mood?

• Is it important to be able to download or share your tracked data? 

From there, consider the type of user experience you prefer. Ask:

• Do you like having lots of options for customization?

• Do you prefer something simple with only a few options for tracking?

• Do you want something more complex with lots of “bells and whistles”? 

Once you have an idea about your preferences, look for those features in each app’s description. You may not be able to find every feature you want in a single app. But you’ll probably be able to get close.

Many apps have a free version that you can download before committing to the paid version. And some are entirely free. So you can experiment with a few different options to find the one that you like the most.

How do mood tracker apps work?

Understanding how and why your feelings change can help you manage your mental health and well-being. Mood trackers work by simplifying this process. These tools make it easier to stop and evaluate your mood with just a few clicks using your smartphone. 

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Depending on the app, you can likely customize your user experience in different ways. For example, some apps allow you to schedule alerts to remind you to track your mood at specific intervals or times of day. Other apps give you the option to select the feelings you want to monitor. 

If you tend to get overwhelmed by long lists of options, tracking a few, key feelings can simplify your experience. There are even mood tracker apps built for children. They use kid-friendly language and imagery to help young users identify what they’re feeling.

Who are mood tracker apps good for?

Mood tracker apps are used by many people who want to better understand the “why” behind their changing moods. 

Some mood tracker apps are made for specific mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, or bipolar disorder. In addition to tracking mood, these tools typically allow users to track condition-specific symptoms. 

For example, an app focused on depression might also include options to track:

• Sleep quality

• Motivation

• Appetite

A mental health provider may recommend that you use a mood tracking app to help them better understand your experiences. This can be especially helpful for monitoring the effectiveness of a new medication and tracking changes in symptoms over time.

What are the benefits of tracking your mood?

Whether you use a pen and paper or a digital tool, tracking your mood can have a positive impact on your mind and body. This is because mood tracking has been shown to help people:

• Increase their emotional well-being

• Develop better self-awareness

• Improve their immune, hormone, and cardiovascular health

• Get better sleep

• Develop a more regular exercise routine

• Better solve problems

• Be more open-minded in their thinking

When you track your mood over time, you might start to notice that certain trends align with specific circumstances or health concerns. For example, you might notice that you tend to get more irritable when you work a double shift or for a long period. This might be due to a lack of sleep or increased stress. 

Or perhaps you might notice a pattern of being less motivated at certain times throughout the month. If you have a uterus, this could be tied to shifting hormone levels related to your menstrual cycle. Uncovering these connections can empower you to seek the support you need to make positive changes.

What is the best way to use mood tracker apps?

Like with any new habit, it can be challenging to use a mood tracker consistently at first. But that’s why it’s so important to use your tracker in a way that works for you. 

After you download the app, review the customization features. See if there’s any settings you can modify to make the app easier to use. This could include modifying:

• Background color schemes

• Home screen appearance

• Sound preferences

Then, take some time to familiarize yourself with how the app works so that you feel comfortable using it.

How often you track your mood throughout the week, day, or month is up to you and your providers. To help determine this, think about your schedule and try to identify times when it would be most convenient for you to track your mood. 

Then, set an alarm on your phone or use the app’s reminder feature to help you remember to log your mood. Many apps give you the option to log moods from previous days. This can be helpful if it feels difficult to track them in the moment. 

Don’t worry about tracking every single mood change. Focus on the shifts that seem most important to you and try to track those. 

Lastly, don’t forget that you have the option to share the data from the app with your providers. You can bring your phone with you to appointments to review your mood trends. Or some apps even allow you to send a report directly to your provider.

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Written by:

Liz Talago, MEd

Liz Talago, MEd, is a mental health content writer and strategist whose work is infused with clinical expertise, behavioral science, and empathic storytelling. After spending years on the front lines of mental health care, Liz now partners with mission-driven organizations across the globe to create digital tools and experiences that enhance well-being.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP, has 15 years of clinical experience providing therapy. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Indiana and Illinois with treatment experience in individual, couples, family, and group therapy modalities.

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