MoodTools review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Free depression self-help app with a CBT thought diary
Black Friday: is there a MoodTools sale?
MoodTools report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for low-mood self-help with a thought diary
MoodTools is a self-help app for low mood with a thought diary, activity log, PHQ-9 test and safety plan, all free on iOS and Android. Export, cloud sync and a passcode need Pro, and it is a depression tool, not a general diary.
Who MoodTools is for
- Fits if you want a free thought diary and mood log for low mood
- Works for people who want to track PHQ-9 scores over time
Who MoodTools is not for
- Skip it if you want a general diary, as it is built around depression self-help
- Tight if you want a passcode, backup or export, because Pro adds all three
- Skip it if you want a web or desktop version, since it runs on phones only
- Watch out: Pro is $4.99 a month, and the Google Play prices were not read
- Watch out: the vendor says it is not a replacement for treatment
Why MoodTools gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyThe core app is free, and Pro is $29.99 a year, about $2.50 a month, against $3.33 where the cheaper quarter of journaling apps starts.
- BFree plan and trialThe thought diary, activities, PHQ-9 test, safety plan and videos are all free, but export, cloud sync and a passcode are paid.
- CFeaturesIt does the thought diary and mood-tracking job for low mood fully, but it is a narrower job than a general journal and has no photos or free-form entries on record.
- BEase of use4.8 from about 310 App Store ratings, under the 1,000 needed for an A.
- CPlatforms and integrationsiPhone and Android only. There is no web or computer app and no integrations are listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MoodTools's own pages on 12 November 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make MoodTools? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/moodtools#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/moodtools.svg" alt="MoodTools: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where MoodTools stands among journaling apps
MoodTools's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 22 of the 39 other journaling apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 29 of 39) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month, against a middle price of $3.99 for the category: 17 of the 24 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 16 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 40 journaling apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. MoodTools’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 29 of 39, level with 10
- BFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 39, level with 8
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 39, level with 31
- BEase of useAbove 4 of 39, level with 17
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 39, level with 23
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 32 journaling apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep MoodTools, or make your own?
You could make this
A journal at its plainest is dated entries of text and photos.
What MoodTools does at its core is daily notes and mood tracking, and that is the kind of thing an AI app builder makes well. You would give up one thing, listed below, and little else. It costs $59.88 a year. An AI app builder starts at about $20 a month on our listings, and you only need it while you build.
What you could make
- Daily notes and mood tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. MoodTools’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is MoodTools?
MoodTools is a self-help app for people with low mood or depression, available on iOS and Android. It includes a thought diary based on cognitive therapy, an activities log that tracks mood before and after, a PHQ-9 questionnaire to track symptom severity, a suicide safety plan and links to information and videos. All core features are free; an optional Pro Mode adds export, cloud sync and passcode protection.
Worth knowing
- The vendor says the app is not a replacement for treatment or medical intervention.
- Export, cloud sync and passcode protection need the paid Pro Mode.
- Pro Mode prices were read from the US App Store listing; the Google Play prices were not read.
- It is a depression self-help tool rather than a general-purpose diary.
Key features
- Thought diary
- Analyze thoughts and spot negative or distorted thinking patterns, based on cognitive therapy.
- Activities
- Pick energizing activities and track mood before and after, based on behavioral activation.
- Depression test
- Take the PHQ-9 questionnaire and track symptom severity over time.
- Safety plan
- Build a suicide safety plan with emergency resources to use in a crisis.
- Information and videos
- Self-help guidelines, links to resources and curated videos such as guided meditations.
- Pro Mode
- Optional subscription that adds export, cloud sync and passcode protection.
MoodTools pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, MoodTools has a free plan, and paid plans start at $4.99 per month (Pro Mode, US App Store).
- Starts at
- $4.99 per month (Pro Mode, US App Store)
- Free plan
- All core features are free: thought diary, activities, safety plan, information, PHQ-9 test and videos.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Thought diary, activities, safety plan, PHQ-9 test, information and videos. |
| Pro Mode Monthly | $4.99per month | Adds export, cloud sync and passcode protection; auto-renewing. |
| Pro Mode Yearly | $29.99per year | The same Pro Mode features billed yearly; auto-renewing. |
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with MoodTools before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountYearly Pro Mode costs less than monthly
The US App Store lists Pro Mode at $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year; twelve monthly payments would total $59.88.
Stated on apps.apple.com
MoodTools alternatives
- MoodTools vs Moodfit
Free plan · from $35.99/yr
- MoodTools vs Daylio
Free plan · from $4.99
- MoodTools vs Bearable
Free plan · from $34.99/yr
- MoodTools vs Clearful
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Common questions
Does MoodTools have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. MoodTools is listed for iOS and Android.
Does MoodTools have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. MoodTools is listed for iOS and Android.
Is MoodTools open source?
MoodTools is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.