#1 · Woebot
Best for: Free CBT skill-buildingStanford-built CBT chatbot — fully free for consumer use.
The most legitimately useful free mental-health app on the market. No paid tier to upsell to. The CBT teaching is solid and evidence-backed.
Strengths
- +Genuinely free with no nag-paywall
- +Stanford-built; published RCTs
- +Useful from day one — not a demo
Where it falls short
- −Scripted decision-tree feel
- −Same exercises recur
vs. ILTY
Woebot is the strongest free option. ILTY is the paid step-up if Woebot's scripted feel isn't working.
#2 · MindShift CBT
Best for: Free CBT for anxietyAnxiety-specific CBT from Anxiety Canada — fully free.
If "free CBT for anxiety" is your search, this is the answer. Anxiety Canada is a real specialist nonprofit; MindShift is essentially a CBT workbook in app form, no paywall ever.
Strengths
- +Built by an actual anxiety nonprofit
- +Truly free with zero upsell
- +Comprehensive anxiety modules
Where it falls short
- −Workbook-style UX — feels dated
- −Demands self-discipline
vs. ILTY
MindShift is the free anxiety-CBT pick. ILTY is the paid conversation alternative.
#3 · Insight Timer
Best for: Free meditationLargest free meditation library — 100,000+ tracks.
If Calm and Headspace feel overpriced, Insight Timer's free library covers the same ground. Worth the discovery friction to skip the $70/yr meditation paywall.
Strengths
- +Free library is massive — most content stays free
- +Variety of teachers, styles, traditions
- +Active community
Where it falls short
- −Premium upsell is constant
- −Discovery is overwhelming without curation
Pricing
Free; Premium $60/yr (not required).
Platforms
iOS, Android, web
vs. ILTY
Insight Timer is for free meditation. ILTY isn't meditation; ILTY is conversation.
#4 · 7 Cups
Best for: Free human peer supportFree anonymous human peer support.
Different category from the other apps here — human peer support, not AI. Often the right answer when you want a HUMAN to listen, free, anonymously.
Strengths
- +Genuinely free, anonymous human listeners
- +Specific subcommunities (anxiety, LGBTQ+, etc.)
- +Listener trained in active listening (appropriately framed, not therapy)
Where it falls short
- −Quality varies by listener
- −Wait times during peak hours
Pricing
Free peer support; therapy upgrade is separate paid product.
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
vs. ILTY
7 Cups wins for free human support. ILTY (paid) wins for AI available instantly with no wait.
#5 · Wysa (free tier)
Best for: Free CBT chatbot with optional paid upgradeCBT chatbot with a meaningful free tier.
Wysa's free tier is genuinely useful — not a 5-feature demo. The Premium upsell pressure is real but the core experience works without paying.
Strengths
- +Free tier covers core CBT exercises
- +Mood tracking included free
- +Published clinical research
Where it falls short
- −Free tier nudges hard toward Premium
- −Decision-tree feels scripted
Pricing
Free tier; ~$99/yr Premium (not required for the free tier value).
vs. ILTY
Wysa free is solid free CBT. ILTY (paid) is the conversation alternative.
#6 · CBT-i Coach
Best for: Free CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) specificallyFree CBT for insomnia from VA + Stanford.
If you can't sleep and don't want pills, CBT-I Coach is the free, evidence-based, government-built answer. Best in class for one specific thing.
Strengths
- +Built by US Veterans Affairs + Stanford
- +Implements gold-standard CBT-I protocol
- +Truly free, no ads, no upsell
Where it falls short
- −Insomnia-specific only
- −Static UX
vs. ILTY
CBT-i Coach for sleep-onset insomnia. ILTY for the anxiety underneath insomnia.
#7 · Pi (Inflection AI)
Best for: Free general AI conversation that handles feelings wellFree general AI companion with strong emotional intelligence.
Pi is the most pleasant free general-AI companion. Useful for everyday emotional reflection. Risky as primary mental-health support because it lacks clinical guardrails.
Strengths
- +Excellent conversational quality
- +Free with no obvious paywall (as of April 2026)
- +Cross-platform with web access
Where it falls short
- −NOT a mental-health tool — no crisis handling, no clinical guardrails
- −Inflection AI's strategy has shifted; long-term fate uncertain
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
vs. ILTY
Pi (free) is the better pick for casual general AI. ILTY (paid) is the better pick when you specifically want a mental-health-designed tool.
#8 · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Best for: Crisis (any mental-health crisis, not just suicidal)Free 24/7 crisis support — call or text.
Not an app, but mentioned in every list because it should be saved in your phone. 988 helps with ALL mental-health crises (panic, severe anxiety, dissociation, feeling unsafe), not just suicidal ideation.
Strengths
- +Genuinely free 24/7
- +Trained crisis counselors
- +Confidential — no insurance involvement, no record
Where it falls short
- −Crisis-specific, not for daily support
- −Wait times can vary
vs. ILTY
988 is for crisis. ILTY (paid) is for the daily support that prevents crisis from being your default.
#9 · ILTY
Best for: Paid step up if free options have plateauedAI mental-health companion — NOT free, paid subscription required.
Listed here for completeness with explicit honesty: ILTY is NOT a free app. If the free options above haven't worked or have plateaued, ILTY is one paid alternative — but try the free apps above first. We don't believe in tricking users into paying for an AI chatbot before they've tried Woebot.
Strengths
- +Five distinct AI companion personalities
- +Conversational AI, not scripted
- +On-device privacy
Where it falls short
- −NOT free — does not meet this list's criteria
- −iOS only
Pricing
$12.99/mo or $99.99/yr after 1-week trial. NOT free.
vs. ILTY
If you want free, pick Woebot or Wysa free tier above. ILTY is only the right pick if you've genuinely tried free options and want something different in conversation style.