Summary:
- 67% of adults in the UK have used an app or device to track aspects of their health, with exercise, diet, and sleep apps as top choices.
- The UK digital health market was worth ~USD 12.8 billion (~GBP 9.58 billion) in 2024.
- The UK is in the top 10 regions globally for health & fitness app downloads.
- Among those over 65 years of age, over 52% are willing to use wellness apps regularly.
- This guide lists the best free wellness apps in the UK, across categories like fitness, mindfulness, and mental health/journaling, rated using the UKNB Trust Score.
Disclaimer: All information in this guide was correct at the time of publication. Details may change, so please check the latest updates on each app’s official page or app store before making a decision.
The landscape of wellness apps in the UK is overwhelming.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the different types of wellness apps in the UK:
- Health tracking apps (such as apps for step counting).
- Digital wellbeing apps for tracking screen time.
- Mental health apps to stay in control of your mood and analyse mood triggers.
- Health journal apps that make it easy to record your mood or habits.
Some apps are made just for the UK, while others are used by millions worldwide, including the UK. A growing number of wellbeing apps in the UK are even recommended by the NHS.
In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best among these many wellness apps.
Also read: Best 5 UK Gyms with Cheap Memberships
How We Rate the Best Wellness Apps: The UKNB Trust Score
With so many wellbeing apps available, choosing the right one isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve developed the UKNB Trust Score. Here’s how it works.
Each app is rated across five key factors:
- Free Value (25%)
- User Ratings & Reviews (20%)
- User Experience & Accessibility (20%)
- Data Privacy & Security (20%)
- NHS or a Health Charity’s Endorsement (15%)
Each factor is scored out of 5, weighted by importance, and totalled for a final score out of 10.
Note: We’ve divided the best wellbeing apps into three categories: fitness, mindfulness & sleep, and mental health & journaling. This helps you quickly find the right app for your goals, as each type supports a different aspect of your overall well-being.
Top 3 UK Wellness Apps for Health & Fitness
1. NHS Active 10 – UKNB Trust Score: 9.2/10
A free walking tracker from the NHS that helps you add more brisk walking to your day. This app is ideal for all fitness levels and especially beginners.
- What It Does: Counts daily “Active 10s”—10-minute bursts of brisk walking. Gives tips, sets goals, and tracks progress automatically.
- Free Features: 100% free, all tracking and advice included, no ads or upsells.
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Developed and recommended by Public Health England/NHS.
- Privacy & Data: Minimal personal data needed, no sign-up required, GDPR-compliant.
- User Experience: Simple, big buttons and text, good for all ages.
- User Ratings (UK): User Ratings (UK): 4.7★ (App Store, 51,300 reviews), 4.4★ (Google Play, 9,800 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
2. Google Fit – UKNB Trust Score: 7.8/10
Google’s official fitness app tracks steps, exercise, and heart points, giving you a central dashboard for all your activity.
- What It Does: Monitors steps, “Move Minutes,” and “Heart Points.” Tracks walks, runs, and integrates with other health apps.
- Free Features: All features are free, unlimited tracking, and links to third-party devices.
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but widely recommended by UK fitness coaches.
- Privacy & Data: Owned by Google, the privacy policy is clear and GDPR-compliant, with controls for data sharing.
- User Experience: Clean interface, works well for all ages, integrates with wearable devices.
- User Ratings (UK):3★ (App Store, 441 reviews), 3.2★ (Google Play, 668,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
3. Strava – UKNB Trust Score: 7.2/10
A social fitness app for runners and cyclists, turning GPS-tracked activities into a motivational community leaderboard.
- What It Does: Tracks runs, rides, and many other workouts; shows maps, stats, and lets you join group challenges.
- Free Features: Unlimited tracking, join challenges, connect with friends, and limited stats for free (paid premium adds analytics and deeper features).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but widely used in UK sports groups and charities for events.
- Privacy & Data: Good privacy controls, GDPR-compliant, public sharing optional.
- User Experience: User-friendly, social features and leaderboards, fun for competitive types.
- User Ratings (UK):8★ (App Store, 124,000 reviews), 4.3★ (Google Play, 997,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
Top 3 UK Wellness Apps for Mindfulness & Sleep
1. Insight Timer – UKNB Trust Score: 7.9/10
A completely free meditation app with the world’s largest library of guided meditations, live events, and mindfulness music.
- What It Does: Offers 250,000+ free guided meditations, music for sleep, timers, and community features.
- Free Features: Full access to core library, timer, groups, and courses; optional paid “Member Plus” adds offline/advanced courses (95% of content free).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but widely recommended by UK mindfulness practitioners.
- Privacy & Data: No sign-up required for most features, GDPR-compliant, clear privacy policy.
- User Experience: Easy navigation, search by mood/theme/length, active global community.
- User Ratings (UK):9★ (App Store, 54,800 reviews), 4.8★ (Google Play, 249,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
2. Headspace – UKNB Trust Score: 7.6/10
A friendly, science-based mindfulness and sleep app that makes meditation accessible for beginners with easy-to-follow sessions.
- What It Does: Guided meditation, “Sleepcasts,” daily reminders, themed packs for stress, focus, and sleep.
- Free Features: Free “Basics” course, daily meditation, some sleep and movement content; full access requires a subscription.
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but has partnered with NHS trusts and UK charities for staff access.
- Privacy & Data: Transparent privacy policy, GDPR-compliant, data controls in app.
- User Experience: Friendly animations, simple navigation, lots of “starter” content.
- User Ratings (UK):8★ (App Store, 1,000,000 reviews), 4.5★ (Google Play, 338,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
3. Calm – UKNB Trust Score: 7.3/10
A top app for meditation and sleep, known for its calming voices, relaxing music, and “Sleep Stories” for all ages.
- What It Does: Offers guided meditation, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and relaxing soundscapes.
- Free Features: Free daily Calm session, some meditations and stories; most content is premium.
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but has provided free access for NHS staff during some periods.
- Privacy & Data: GDPR-compliant, privacy options for account and listening.
- User Experience: Very easy to use, soothing design, tailored recommendations.
- User Ratings (UK):7★ (App Store, 316,000 reviews), 4.4★ (Google Play, 602,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
Top 3 UK Wellness Apps for Mental Health & Journaling
1. Daylio – UKNB Trust Score: 8.2/10
A mood-tracking diary that lets you record how you feel in seconds, with no typing required—ideal for spotting trends and building self-awareness.
- What It Does: Tracks mood with icons, lets you log activities and notes, and visualises mood over weeks or months.
- Free Features: Unlimited mood tracking, stats, reminders, PIN lock (paid upgrade for advanced features).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but frequently recommended by therapists.
- Privacy & Data: All data stored locally, optional cloud backup, GDPR-compliant.
- User Experience: Super simple, customizable, good for all ages.
- User Ratings (UK):7★ (App Store, 13,000 reviews), 4.7★ (Google Play, 438,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
2. SilverCloud – UKNB Trust Score: 8.2/10*
An NHS-endorsed online platform offering self-help cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) courses for stress, anxiety, depression, and more.
- What It Does: Digital therapy courses, interactive exercises, supported by UK therapists in many regions.
- Free Features: NHS patients in most regions can access core CBT modules for free (some private paid options offered).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Fully NHS-endorsed, often provided free by NHS Talking Therapies.
- Privacy & Data: Meets NHS and GDPR standards, secure log-in.
- User Experience: Easy to follow, well-structured, and progress tracking.
- User Ratings (UK):5★ (App Store, 90 reviews), 3.1★ (Google Play, 200 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
* Included for its NHS endorsement and proven effectiveness, despite a lower number of public app reviews.
3. Wysa (AI CBT) – UKNB Trust Score: 8.0/10
An AI-powered mental health app that lets you chat about worries, track mood, and learn CBT skills in a safe, anonymous way.
- What It Does: AI chatbot for support, self-care tools, mood tracking, and access to real therapists for a fee.
- Free Features: Chatbot, daily mood log, some exercises are free (paid options for human therapist sessions).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Accredited by ORCHA, NHS Digital recommended for self-help.
- Privacy & Data: Anonymous use, secure, GDPR-compliant, no identifying data needed.
- User Experience: Gentle, approachable, easy for all ages, text-based chat.
- User Ratings (UK):9★ (App Store, 24,000 reviews), 4.6★ (Google Play, 151,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
Top 3 Wellness Apps for Over 60s
1. NHS Couch to 5K – UKNB Trust Score: 9.2/10
A gentle, step-by-step running program developed by the NHS to help anyone get active, even if you’ve never run before.
- What It Does: Audio coach guides you from walking to jogging a 5K over 9 weeks.
- Free Features: Fully free, unlimited replays, no ads.
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Developed and promoted by the NHS.
- Privacy & Data: Minimal data, no account needed, GDPR-compliant.
- User Experience: Clear, big buttons, audio coaching, easy for beginners.
- User Ratings (UK):8★ (App Store, 385,000 reviews), 4.9★ (Google Play, 65,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
2. Holly Health (50+ habits) – UKNB Trust Score: 7.6/10**
A digital coach designed for people over 50, helping you build healthy daily habits around movement, nutrition, and sleep.
- What It Does: Sends gentle reminders and tailored micro-goals to support lasting wellbeing.
- Free Features: Core habit coaching and check-ins are free (some optional paid features).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Supported by Age UK branches and NHS Innovation partners.
- Privacy & Data: GDPR-compliant, private data, only minimal personal info.
- User Experience: Very simple, clear font, easy for older adults.
- User Ratings (UK):5★ (App Store, 800 reviews), 4.3★ (Google Play, 300 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
** Selected for its specialist support for over-50s and strong partnerships with UK health charities, even with fewer user reviews.
3. Medisafe (Pill Reminder) – UKNB Trust Score: 7.4/10
A medication reminder app that makes it easy to manage pills and prescriptions, with alerts and a simple daily schedule.
- What It Does: Reminds you to take medicine, tracks doses, and can notify a family member if doses are missed.
- Free Features: Unlimited meds, reminders, drug info, basic history, all free (optional paid premium).
- NHS/Charity Accreditation: Not NHS-accredited but widely used and reviewed by UK pharmacists.
- Privacy & Data: Secure, GDPR-compliant, no data shared with third parties.
- User Experience: Clear layout, large icons, easy for less tech-savvy users.
- User Ratings (UK):7★ (App Store, 97,000 reviews), 3.1★ (Google Play, 246,000 reviews).
- Device Compatibility: iPhone and Android.
Also Read: How Brits Embrace “Longevity” & Its Impact
Top 3 UK Wellness Apps for iPhone and Android
All the apps we have listed above are available for both Android and iOS. However, some of these work better on one OS or have been more popular among users of either OS. Based on these insights, here are the best wellness apps for Android and iOS.
Best UK Wellness Apps for Android
- NHS Couch to 5K
- Daylio
- Calm
Best UK Wellness Apps for iOS
- Insight Timer
- NHS Couch to 5K
- Headspace
Note: If you’re searching for the best wellness apps for Samsung, please note that Samsung phones use Android, so nearly all top wellbeing apps for Android work perfectly on Samsung devices too.
Choose the wellness apps that fit your lifestyle and device, and give them a try over a few weeks. If you’d like more suggestions or updates, check back regularly or subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us to share your favourite apps.
