Gratitude apps provide convenient ways to cultivate gratitude by facilitating daily reflection & tracking positive experiences.
Features like journaling prompts & reminders help integrate gratitude practices into everyday life, enhancing positivity & wellbeing.
Regular use of these apps can improve mental health by fostering a more grateful outlook & increasing life satisfaction.
Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and gratitude.
It is a time to say thank you on Thanksgiving Day, a time to give and receive gifts, and a time to look at the year gone past and the year ahead.
However, why wait for the end of the year? Any time is a great time to develop gratitude, so take a moment to reflect on what you have. For example, perhaps you have family or friends who you love, a job that you enjoy. Do you have pleasant neighbors and good health?
If you struggle to remember your blessings, whether they are big or small, we will advise you about different gratitude apps to make things easier.
The apps are not listed in a particular order. Some are free, others are not; some were developed for Android, others for iOS.
Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Gratitude Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients connect to more positive emotions and enjoy the benefits of gratitude.
What we like: There are lots of features, and the free version is generous.
First up is the aptly named Gratitude. This colorful app offers a large variety of features; for example, you can write journal entries for your gratitude journal, construct self-affirmations, receive daily quotes, and build a vision board that consists of images and goals.
You can set a daily reminder for your journal entries – a useful feature especially when you are beginning a journaling habit. If you struggle to get started, the app also provides a list of prompts as inspiration; for example, “someone who lives far away.”
One of the aspects that we like most about this app is that it has gratitude challenges, such as a 7-day gratitude challenge and a 14-day thanksgiving challenge. The daily affirmations are also very interesting. To start, you choose a few goals, rank them, and then choose the affirmations that you like. For example, if you choose the goal, “Making a difference,” then you can select a suitable daily affirmation.
Finally, all of your journal entries are private, so you don’t have to worry about someone else reading them.
The free version of the app is extremely generous and includes all of the features described so far. The paid version allows you to add more photos to your vision boards, export your data, save daily zen quotes, and search your journal entries. This app is available for iOS and Android.
What we like: Completely free with no advertisements; easy to use
Presently offers a more simplified version of a gratitude journal. Each day you are prompted to write about what you are grateful for. With the calendar option, you can view your gratitude entries for every day.
This is a very scaled-back, bare-bones version of the gratitude journal, especially when compared to the previous app, but this will appeal to users who want a no-frills, easy-to-use approach. Your entries can easily be shared with friends and family, and the app is password controlled. The best part: the app is free, and there are no advertisements.
These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to build daily gratitude habits, express more appreciation toward others, and experience more positive emotions in everyday life.
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Delightful – Gratitude Journal & 3 Good Things
Number of followers/users: 1,069
Average rating: 4.6
Price: Free
System: Android & iOS
Features/Content: Three prompts, daily reminder, calendar
What we like: Nice choice of journal prompts
Similar to Presently, the Delightful app is also a no-frills approach to gratitude journaling. Upon opening the app, you’re presented with an inspirational quote and the option to write a gratitude entry.
All of your journal entries will be listed on the home screen, but you can also view these by clicking on the calendar option. When writing a journal entry, you’ll see three journal prompts that you can choose from, such as “What’s on your mind right now?” “Share about a friend,” and “What strengths are you grateful to have?”
You can write an entry for all of the prompts or only one. Finally, if you want, you can also share your entries by clicking the share option.
In Reflectly, you are asked to rate your mood and write journal entries each morning. Then, using artificial intelligence, Reflectly analyzes your journal entries to develop journaling prompts personalized for you.
All of your journal entries are saved, so you can browse through them again at a later stage. It’s not clear what type of analysis is done on the journal entries – for example, looking at word choice, the emotional valence of words, or a more complicated algorithm – but the idea of personalized journaling prompts is an interesting one.
The mood tracker is also a nice feature and could easily be used to gain other insights about your stress levels or menstrual cycle.
This app is included because of the option to create personalized journal prompts, a feature missing from the other apps so far. Grateful is streamlined and straightforward to use, and your journal entries are private and saved in case you want to read them again.
Of the apps listed in this post, the free version of this app has the least versatility, because you’re limited to only 15 journal entries. You can delete your previous posts so that you don’t reach the limit in the free version, or you can opt for the paid version of the app to create an unlimited number of posts. Being able to make your own prompts is nice enough to warrant this app a mention.
Features/Content: Mood tracker, daily prompts, sharing with friends, gamification
What we like: Mood tracker, daily prompts
This app is filled to the brim with features. For example, you’re given inspirational stories to read each day, it includes meditations that you can follow, it tracks your mood, and you can write journal entries that you can then share with your contacts. For these reasons, it is a great app for someone who wants everything in one place and who likes social media.
However, be aware that some reviews were quite negative, and you need to provide your payment details before you can use the free version of the app. Read the fine print carefully if you do not want to be billed unnecessarily.
The next set of apps have too few followers to make them recommendable; however, they look promising and worthwhile. A short description of each and why they’re worth looking at follow.
Gratitude Garden
Number of followers/users: 327
Average rating: 4.3
Price: In-app purchases
System: Android
Features/Content: Gamification
This app uses gamification techniques to motivate users. Besides gratitude journaling, the app encourages users to build a gratitude garden populated with plants and little creatures. When journaling, you’re prompted to write about three things for which you’re grateful. This will earn you a card and points, which you can use to purchase ‘creatures.’
This is a unique take on gratitude journaling and will appeal to users who like to earn points and high scores, and benefit from a reminder of their progress.
Unlike the other apps so far, Longwalks encourages social connections by allowing users to share their journal entries and thoughts with other users. Besides the social connectedness, the app also offers different daily meditation and gratitude questions that are meant to encourage reflection and conversations.
The app is probably best suited for couples, friends, or family members who are experiencing the journaling adventure together.
This app goes back to the basics; every day, users are prompted to journal about three good things that happened. There are no frills. This is a simple, straightforward journaling app. You can save your entries, export them as pdfs, and share them on social media.
Although it has fewer features than the other apps listed so far, this app is best for someone who only wants to journal.
This beautiful app includes prompts for both day and night journaling. You can select the questions that you want to answer in the morning and then choose a different set for the evening.
Your prompts are not limited to journaling only but can include affirmations. For example, perhaps you want to be prompted with a daily affirmation in the morning (e.g., “I am resilient”) and then a reflection prompt in the evening (e.g., “Name a good thing that happened today”). You can also track your mood and view the trends over time. There is a free and premium version of the app.
Features/Content: App and online versions, ability to share your posts
Happyfeed is included in this list because it syncs across multiple devices, and there is a web version of this app. Besides writing journal entries, you can also share these with a select group of people, known as a ‘pod.’
It is nice to be able to share your posts with other people of your choice, especially as a way to express gratitude toward them. All of your journal entries are saved and can be reviewed at any stage. The app is free.
Empower others with more hope, satisfaction, and fulfilling relationships with these 17 Gratitude & Appreciation Exercises [PDF] that harness the powerful benefits of gratitude.
PositivePsychology.com provides a variety of resources, including resources to develop gratitude. Many of these tools can be used alone or can be paired with apps that have customizable prompts.
The Top 5 Values
This exercise draws on key principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients begin brainstorming their values. Following this, clients will then prioritize these values in a list to identify those most central to who they are.
Self-Eulogy
This exercise invites clients to consider how they’d like to be remembered at their funeral as a means to identify and clarify values. Based on this, they can then consider how well they are living in alignment with these values.
The Scoreboard Metaphor
This exercise helps clients recognize how to enact their values through goal-setting. In particular, it draws on the metaphor of a basketball game to illustrate how living into one’s values is an ongoing process and that the paths by which we pursue our goals are opportunities to enact our values in daily life.
If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others harness the benefits of gratitude, this collection contains 17 validated gratitude tools for practitioners. Use them to help others shift to a more positive mindset and experience the joys of life more deeply.
A Take-Home Message
In this post, we reviewed numerous Android and iOS apps that are currently available. The golden thread that connects these apps is their focus on developing gratitude.
Most of these apps have a free version, and the majority also include in-app purchases or a premium version. If you can’t find an app that suits your needs, then you can use the PositivePsychology.com resources to make an ‘old fashioned,’ pen-and-paper version of a gratitude journal, which will be just as effective.
Whatever form your gratitude journal takes, remember that it is only as good as the amount of effort you put in. In other words, if you don’t use it regularly, it won’t be able to help you develop gratitude. If you have any tips that you use to develop gratitude or other apps that you recommend, then please tell us all about it in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!
Yes, several gratitude apps offer free versions, such as Presently and Delightful, both of which are easy to use and include basic journaling features without advertisements. These apps focus on daily entries and simple prompts to help users build a consistent gratitude habit.
What causes a lack of gratitude?
A lack of gratitude can stem from stress, a busy lifestyle, or cultural influences that emphasize achievement over appreciation. Often, focusing on what is missing in life, rather than what is already present, can also hinder feelings of gratitude.
How can I practice gratitude daily?
Try writing in a gratitude journal, using prompts from apps, or reflecting on three positive moments each day. Simple practices like these, especially when done consistently, can significantly enhance your sense of appreciation and wellbeing.
About the author
Alicia Nortje, Ph.D. is a research fellow at the University of Cape Town, where she is involved in multiple projects investigating eyewitness memory and face recognition. She’s highly skilled in research design, data analysis, and critical thinking. When she’s not working, she indulges in running on the road or the trails, and enjoys cooking.
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What our readers think
macara brachmann
on September 4, 2022 at 04:42
Would love to add my BlissDaily3 gratitude app to the list as well!
The concept is simple, pick 3 photos a day with a brief reason why they made your #blissdaily3 ‘s .
Its free IOS /Google.
Want to spread the word to all that need to stay focused on the good in their daily lives.
I’ve been posting my personal daily’s for almost 8 years and it has been a game changer in my world. I know it can help others and simply want to spread the word.
I liked this article but find it annoying that every time I try to download the 3 free exercises it takes me to a page to PAY for 17 exercises. Feels a bit like bait and switch.
Our apologies for the confusion! If you check your inbox, the three free PDFs will be there. If you cannot find them, be sure to also check your spam/promotions folder.
Great list. I built my own gratitude practice into a daily routine that includes letting go (clearing the mind), expressing 3 gratitudes, and setting an intention for the day. You can also track your habits as you want. I wanted something that brought together everything in a quick and focused routine:
– Get in the right mindset
– Express gratitude
– Decide on your focus
If you’d like to give it a try, it is free and completely private (all data stays on your phone).
Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CRT, CCFP
on March 24, 2021 at 18:51
There is a wonderful app called “Grateful Chip”. It is a combination of the gratitude letter exercise and the ripple effect. I can’t say enough about it.
Hey Alicia! I’m so happy to find our app: Gratitude (https://gratefulness.me/) on your list. The first app in the list. My name is Pritesh and I’m the maker of the Gratitude app. I built this app out of a personal need to cope through a tough time and I can’t be thankful enough that many people across the world are finding the app meaningful for bring more gratitude in their lives.
It’s one the simplest things that I have ever tried that changed my mindset significantly for the better. For me, the trigger to start a Gratitude journal was reading the book ‘The Secret’. I have been following PositivePsychology.com for a long time and it’s a joyous moment for us to be on one of your posts. Thank you so much! You made our day. 🙂 Lots of love ❤️
Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and gratitude.
What our readers think
Would love to add my BlissDaily3 gratitude app to the list as well!
The concept is simple, pick 3 photos a day with a brief reason why they made your #blissdaily3 ‘s .
Its free IOS /Google.
Want to spread the word to all that need to stay focused on the good in their daily lives.
I’ve been posting my personal daily’s for almost 8 years and it has been a game changer in my world. I know it can help others and simply want to spread the word.
Best,
Macara
I liked this article but find it annoying that every time I try to download the 3 free exercises it takes me to a page to PAY for 17 exercises. Feels a bit like bait and switch.
Hi Kim,
Our apologies for the confusion! If you check your inbox, the three free PDFs will be there. If you cannot find them, be sure to also check your spam/promotions folder.
– Nicole | Community Manager
Great list. I built my own gratitude practice into a daily routine that includes letting go (clearing the mind), expressing 3 gratitudes, and setting an intention for the day. You can also track your habits as you want. I wanted something that brought together everything in a quick and focused routine:
– Get in the right mindset
– Express gratitude
– Decide on your focus
If you’d like to give it a try, it is free and completely private (all data stays on your phone).
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/peerless-commit-to-yourself/id1577615989
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.peerless
Website: https://becomepeerless.com
This practice has helped me and I hope it helps others!
There is a wonderful app called “Grateful Chip”. It is a combination of the gratitude letter exercise and the ripple effect. I can’t say enough about it.
Hey Alicia! I’m so happy to find our app: Gratitude (https://gratefulness.me/) on your list. The first app in the list. My name is Pritesh and I’m the maker of the Gratitude app. I built this app out of a personal need to cope through a tough time and I can’t be thankful enough that many people across the world are finding the app meaningful for bring more gratitude in their lives.
It’s one the simplest things that I have ever tried that changed my mindset significantly for the better. For me, the trigger to start a Gratitude journal was reading the book ‘The Secret’. I have been following PositivePsychology.com for a long time and it’s a joyous moment for us to be on one of your posts. Thank you so much! You made our day. 🙂 Lots of love ❤️