Should I Build It Should I Build It
09 Jul 2025
Android Music

Mobile app for anxiety control which allows the user to play music, ...

...call a friend read appropriate passages via a

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.

Your are here

Your mobile app idea for anxiety control falls into the 'Freemium' category. This means that while people are generally interested in such tools, convincing them to pay can be a challenge. With 8 similar products already out there, the market is moderately competitive, so differentiation will be key. The engagement (average of 6 comments) on these similar apps is medium, suggesting there is room to build a community around your app. Unfortunately, the provided data has zero 'net use' and 'net buy' signals, suggesting that people aren't explicitly talking about using or buying similar products in public forums. This might just mean that these things are dealt with in private. Therefore, it will be crucial to figure out what specific needs your app addresses better than existing solutions and who is most likely to pay for those benefits.

Recommendations

  1. Start by deeply understanding which users are getting the most value from free anxiety control apps. What specific features are they using, and what problems are they trying to solve? Use surveys, interviews, and app analytics (if available from competitors) to gather this information. For example, 'Calmer' users appreciated science-backed tools, which could be an area to improve upon or differentiate from.
  2. Based on your understanding of user needs, create premium features that address those needs even more effectively. These could include personalized content, advanced analytics, or access to a community of users. For example, you could create custom technique toolkits, as requested by some users for the Calmer app.
  3. Consider charging teams or organizations rather than individual users. Many companies are now investing in employee mental health and wellness programs, and they may be willing to pay for an app that can help their employees manage anxiety. Focus on the value proposition for the team or organization, such as increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, or improved employee satisfaction.
  4. Offer personalized help or consulting as a premium feature. This could include one-on-one coaching, group therapy sessions, or access to a mental health professional. If your team does not have in-house experts in mental health, consider partnering with a mental health professional to help you deliver this service. The 'Calmer' app highlights the importance of science-backed design.
  5. Test different pricing approaches with small groups of users. Offer different tiers of features and price points, and track which ones are most popular. Use A/B testing to optimize your pricing strategy and maximize revenue. Ensure your FAQs on pricing are up-to-date, as outdated info was a point of criticism for the Calmer app.
  6. Focus on ease of use and onboarding. The 'One Calm' app received criticism about clarity in onboarding. Ensure that the sign-up process is simple and intuitive. Consider offering Google OAuth integration, as requested by users of the 'Head On' app. Mandatory account creation might deter some users.
  7. Since there are already a number of competing apps, it's critical to differentiate your product in a meaningful way. Consider features like health data connectivity or local language support. Users of competing apps have requested these. If your app focuses on these, it might be a source of differentiation.

Questions

  1. Given the number of existing anxiety control apps, what specific user segments are underserved, and how can your app uniquely address their needs?
  2. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you will track to measure the success of your freemium model, and how will you iterate on your product based on those metrics?
  3. Considering the feedback on similar apps regarding onboarding and sign-up processes, how will you ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience from the moment a user downloads your app?

Your are here

Your mobile app idea for anxiety control falls into the 'Freemium' category. This means that while people are generally interested in such tools, convincing them to pay can be a challenge. With 8 similar products already out there, the market is moderately competitive, so differentiation will be key. The engagement (average of 6 comments) on these similar apps is medium, suggesting there is room to build a community around your app. Unfortunately, the provided data has zero 'net use' and 'net buy' signals, suggesting that people aren't explicitly talking about using or buying similar products in public forums. This might just mean that these things are dealt with in private. Therefore, it will be crucial to figure out what specific needs your app addresses better than existing solutions and who is most likely to pay for those benefits.

Recommendations

  1. Start by deeply understanding which users are getting the most value from free anxiety control apps. What specific features are they using, and what problems are they trying to solve? Use surveys, interviews, and app analytics (if available from competitors) to gather this information. For example, 'Calmer' users appreciated science-backed tools, which could be an area to improve upon or differentiate from.
  2. Based on your understanding of user needs, create premium features that address those needs even more effectively. These could include personalized content, advanced analytics, or access to a community of users. For example, you could create custom technique toolkits, as requested by some users for the Calmer app.
  3. Consider charging teams or organizations rather than individual users. Many companies are now investing in employee mental health and wellness programs, and they may be willing to pay for an app that can help their employees manage anxiety. Focus on the value proposition for the team or organization, such as increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, or improved employee satisfaction.
  4. Offer personalized help or consulting as a premium feature. This could include one-on-one coaching, group therapy sessions, or access to a mental health professional. If your team does not have in-house experts in mental health, consider partnering with a mental health professional to help you deliver this service. The 'Calmer' app highlights the importance of science-backed design.
  5. Test different pricing approaches with small groups of users. Offer different tiers of features and price points, and track which ones are most popular. Use A/B testing to optimize your pricing strategy and maximize revenue. Ensure your FAQs on pricing are up-to-date, as outdated info was a point of criticism for the Calmer app.
  6. Focus on ease of use and onboarding. The 'One Calm' app received criticism about clarity in onboarding. Ensure that the sign-up process is simple and intuitive. Consider offering Google OAuth integration, as requested by users of the 'Head On' app. Mandatory account creation might deter some users.
  7. Since there are already a number of competing apps, it's critical to differentiate your product in a meaningful way. Consider features like health data connectivity or local language support. Users of competing apps have requested these. If your app focuses on these, it might be a source of differentiation.

Questions

  1. Given the number of existing anxiety control apps, what specific user segments are underserved, and how can your app uniquely address their needs?
  2. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you will track to measure the success of your freemium model, and how will you iterate on your product based on those metrics?
  3. Considering the feedback on similar apps regarding onboarding and sign-up processes, how will you ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience from the moment a user downloads your app?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 8
  • Engagement: Medium
    • Average number of comments: 6
  • Net use signal: 27.3%
    • Positive use signal: 27.3%
    • Negative use signal: 0.0%
  • Net buy signal: 0.0%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 0.0%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

Calmer - An anxiety relief app that actually works

20 Mar 2025 Android Meditation Health & Fitness

Years ago, a surfing accident sparked my battle with anxiety and depression. Calmer was born from that journey. Built with clinical psychologists, it offers science-backed tools and insights to help you manage stress, reduce anxiety, and regain control.

Calmer, a science-backed mental wellness app, receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its calming design, ease of use, and anxiety relief tools. Users appreciate the app's foundation in research and clinical psychology, with many finding the founder's personal story inspiring. Several users intend to try the app, particularly the Android version. Suggestions include adding audio options for articles, tailoring exercises to specific triggers, and integrating health data connectivity. There are inquiries about the app's pricing model, and a user points out outdated information in the FAQ. A request was made for local language support in the Android app.

Users expressed concerns about long-term user retention and the app's differentiation from existing mental health apps. There were requests for language options and the ability to integrate lifestyle changes. Users also suggested adding audio options for articles and creating custom technique toolkits. Furthermore, feedback highlighted outdated information in the FAQ section.

faizanjan_

Calmer's comprehensive approach to anxiety relief, combining immediate techniques with long-term strategies, is impressive. I'm particularly interested in how the app tailors its recommendations to individual users. How does it differentiate itself from other mental health apps like Calm?

irene_r71

ooh, that's what I actually need 😄 I'll definitely try the app

tanoy27

@laurisdzilumslooks impressive! I will definitely try the Android app

morgane_prr

It’s been said multiple times, but one more won’t hurt: it's great to see more tools tackling mental health challenges! Congrats on the launch!I downloaded the app and really liked the reassuring message at the end of the onboarding (something like a 72% chance of recovery). It’s a great small touch!One unsolicited suggestion: I think it would be great to have an option to listen to the School articles. I’m not a big fan of reading on my phone, but that’s just my personal preference.Also, I love that research sources are accessible. Again, congrats and all the best with Calmer!

natasha_007

Lauris, thank you for sharing your journey and creating something that will benefit many. I like how your app is both experience—and science-based and looks straightforward and easy to use. I guess my first thought was, can I create a custom toolkit of techniques? Best of luck with your launch!

_de_liz

Not only the whole concept of the application is calming, but the proposed activities actually make a difference on your awareness, perception and anxiety levels after you try them. Very happy to see this app. Thank you!

jay_kaelin

I was looking for app that really work to help my panic attack and i found this, i'm very grateful for knowing this app, thank you for the hard work dev! it helps me so much, big love!

nico_portalys

Love this! Nice UI too. I will be using it 👍

growth_journal

Your story is incredible, just downloaded your app. Love the TVC btw, well crafted. Good Luck and congrats

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Relevance

Head On - Take control of anxiety, panic & stress

08 Mar 2023 Health Android Health & Fitness

A free app developed by psychologists that helps you take control of your stress responses. Head On offers a variety of exercises and techniques to help deal with stress, social anxiety, addiction, unprocessed trauma, not sleeping well and many more!

The mobile app is seen as a useful tool for health management. Users appreciate its functionality and wish the product good luck. Some suggestions include optional account creation and Google OAuth integration to improve user experience.

Users criticized the product launch due to the mandatory account creation. The primary concern revolves around the absence of a simpler sign-up method, specifically highlighting the need for Google OAuth as a more convenient alternative.

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One Calm - Calm down in one minute

07 Jun 2023 Health Meditation Lifestyle

Calm in One Minute: Perform at your best by reducing anxiety and overthinking with our calming app. Enhance your focus and mindfulness with our interactive breathing feature. Let go of anxiety and find calm with our Engage Senses feature.

Users express excitement and support for the launch, highlighting its potential for promoting inner peace, focus, and quick calming during stressful situations. Congratulatory messages are also present, indicating positive reception of the initiative.

The primary criticism revolves around the need for improved clarity in the onboarding process and startup text. Suggestions include leveraging tools like ChatGPT to enhance the user experience and make the initial stages more understandable.

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A Mental-Health Driven Social App with a Built-In CRM

11 Apr 2023 Social Media Health & Fitness

Hey HN! My name is Connor and I am posting today to launch (aka gather feedback on) the app I have been working on.I have General Anxiety Disorder. And that’s most definitely the first time I’ve written those 5 words out like that. My anxiety, very luckily, has never been that detrimental to my life, but I would be lying if I told you I didn’t notice it.For me, anxiety manifests as the inability to recognize negative thoughts quickly. When I fail to recognize them, they cycle and loop and I convince myself of things that aren’t true (that person doesn’t like me any more, I don’t deserve anything I have, I’m a massive failure with a too big nose and receding hairline, etc…). Over the years, I have done many things and learned many techniques to benefit my mental health, but one strategy has always been the most helpful:Talking to someone. Anyone. About anything.Anxiety is like a little voice in my head. When I talk to someone, it gets a lot harder to hear it. And it really doesn’t matter what we talk about, either. About their day, about mine. About my problems, or about theirs. My friends just make me feel better.Over the last five years, the missions of most major social platforms have shifted. They have chosen to prioritize entertainment and average-user-screen-time over closeness and relationships with friends.Such social media aren’t bad or wrong. I still use social media every day. They just don’t do a very good job of keeping me close to my friends.That's why I built WuzzUp?. To fill the void, and help me keep in touch with my friends and reduce my anxiety. I'd love to hear what you think!

Password selection issues, plans to check out later

Password selection issues

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I created a web app that uses GPT-4 to help balance my anxious thoughts

10 Jun 2023 Health Meditation Health & Fitness

I've been living with generalized anxiety and OCD for over a decade, and I often found myself in a cycle of constant overthinking. Grappling with my own experiences sparked the inspiration to create something for those who might be sharing a similar situation.Balance is a web app that employs GPT-4 to provide a novel way to tackle acute anxiety. All you need to do is tell it what's bothering you, and Balance crafts three unique interpretations of your situation. It's not here to diminish feelings, but rather to cast them in a different, less intimidating light.It's by no means intended to supersede professional assistance. If you're ever feeling overwhelmed or in distress, seeking professional help is paramount.I designed Balance with the aspiration to bring a little respite and fresh perspective for anyone grappling with acute anxiety situations.I'm releasing it as a completely free app (I currently have some free OpenAI credits that are paying for the AI side of it) with the hopes that it can help you like it's helping me.There are details on safety and privacy under "More info" on the website.

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