Affirmation apps come in two kinds. Ready-made apps show you lines from a big library, usually as widgets and reminders. Personalized apps ask what is going on and write lines for you, often read aloud. Here are five good ones, with what they cost and who they suit.
We make Centered, so read our pick with that in mind. Prices come from each app's own website or App Store page and may change.
| App | Kind | Spoken aloud | Free plan | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centered | Personalized for this moment, plus weekly guided sessions | Yes, calm human-sounding voice | 1 written stack a week, weekly session, 1 library session a day, unlimited SOS | $4.99/month or $39.99/year, 7-day trial |
| Anchor | Personalized from how you feel | Yes, choice of voices | 2 plays and 2 generations a day | Monthly or yearly (price not listed on its site) |
| Orly | Personalized from your goals and life, plus an AI coach | Yes, 31 voices | 1 personalized affirmation a day after day one | $19.99/month, $89.99/year, $7.99/week or $99.99 lifetime |
| I am | Ready-made, by focus area | Not its focus | Yes, with in-app purchases | $14.99/month, $59.99/year or $149.99 lifetime |
| ThinkUp | Ready-made affirmations and reminders | Check the app | Yes | In-app upgrades |
1. Centered: best for the moment you are in right now
Type or say what is going on, like "big presentation tomorrow and I can't sleep" or "hard conversation with my mom tonight". Centered writes a short stack of affirmations for that exact moment and reads them back in a calm voice, with each line appearing as it is spoken. Every week there is a new guided session written for a real moment, free for everyone that week. SOS sessions for panic, anxiety, anger, overwhelm, shame and sleep are always free. You can keep a line on your Lock Screen as a cut-paper wallpaper, or on your Home Screen as a widget. There are no streaks to lose.
Price: free to start. Centered+ is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, which makes it the lowest-priced personalized option here. More questions about Centered.
2. Anchor: personalized, with many voices and languages
Anchor writes a grounded, CBT-style affirmation from how you say you feel and speaks it in a voice you choose. It works on iPhone and Android and in 29 languages. The free plan gives you two plays and two generations a day.
3. Orly: personalized affirmations plus an AI coach
Orly asks about your work, relationships and goals, then writes daily affirmations from your answers and reads them in one of 31 voices. It also has an AI chat coach and live voice conversations. It is the most feature-packed option here and also the most expensive: $19.99 a month or $89.99 a year.
4. I am: best for widgets and gentle reminders
I am puts a new affirmation on your Lock Screen and Home Screen each day and sends reminders through the day. You pick focus areas instead of writing anything. It works on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Premium is $14.99 a month or $59.99 a year.
5. ThinkUp: a long-running affirmations app
ThinkUp is one of the best-known affirmation apps, with affirmations and reminders on iPhone and Android. It is free to download with in-app upgrades.
Which one should you pick?
- You want words for tonight, read in a calm voice: Centered.
- You want many voices or a language other than English: Anchor.
- You want a coach to talk to as well: Orly.
- You just want a nice line on your Lock Screen: I am.
Affirmations are a tool for reflection, not a replacement for care. If anxiety is constant or overwhelming, please talk to a professional. In the United States you can call or text 988.