Riley.

Best Mood Tracker Apps (2026 Comparison)

Mood tracker apps make emotional patterns and triggers visible by logging how you feel regularly. This guide compares the five most common options by logging style, depth, and price.

Short answer: For a creative, calming daily ritual, Riley stands out; for the fastest emoji log, Daylio; for a science-based feelings vocabulary, How We Feel; for symptom-correlation analysis, Bearable.

Comparison Table

App	Logging style	Depth	Platform	Price
Riley	Draw a mood orb + emotions wheel + notes/photos/voice	High — spiral pattern view, habits	iOS, Android	Free + in-app
Daylio	Emoji + activity picker	Medium — stats	iOS, Android	Free + premium
How We Feel	Pick from an emotion grid	Medium — scientific feelings vocabulary	iOS, Android	Free
Moodnotes	Written journal + CBT prompts	Medium — thought traps	iOS	Paid
Bearable	Ratings + symptom/medication logs	High — correlation analysis	iOS, Android	Free + premium

1. Riley — Best for a Creative, Calming Daily Ritual

Riley is a mood journal where you record each day by drawing rather than tapping an emoji: draw a colorful mood orb, name the feeling on a full emotions wheel, and attach notes, photos, or voice memos. Days accumulate in a spiral view.

• Pros: the act of logging is itself a small calming exercise; precise feeling-naming (affect labeling) via a full emotions wheel; spiral pattern view; habit + streak tracking; rich media journaling.
• Cons: if you want a 5-second emoji log, Daylio is faster.
• Best for: people who want to genuinely connect with their feelings and turn journaling into a ritual.

More: What Is Riley?

2. Daylio — Best for the Fastest Log

The category's most famous name: pick an emoji and activities, done. The speed is unbeatable, but the depth is limited — an emoji can't answer "why did I feel this way." More: Daylio Alternatives

3. How We Feel — Best for a Scientific Feelings Vocabulary

Born out of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, free and polished. The emotion grid is genuinely educational; the journaling/media side is limited.

4. Moodnotes — Best for CBT-Style Written Journaling

Focuses on catching thought traps with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) prompts. Great for writers; weak on visuals and pattern views.

5. Bearable — Best for Symptom & Correlation Tracking

Correlates mood with sleep, medication, symptoms, and activities. Powerful for managing chronic conditions; can feel like filling out forms.

Which One Should You Pick?

• You want logging itself to feel good: Riley — drawing + color + spiral.
• Maximum speed: Daylio.
• Grow your emotional vocabulary: How We Feel.
• CBT exercises: Moodnotes.
• Health-data correlations: Bearable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do mood trackers actually work?

Yes — the mechanism is two-layered: naming an emotion (affect labeling) is regulating on its own, and consistent logging makes trigger patterns visible. More: What Is Mood Tracking?

Is there a free mood tracker?

Riley's core features and How We Feel are free; Daylio and Bearable have free tiers.

Does a mood tracker replace therapy?

No. These are self-monitoring tools; they don't diagnose or treat. If you're struggling, reach out to a mental health professional.

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Draw your first orb: Riley — on the App Store and Google Play.