I test a lot of wellness apps. Most of them are fine for about a week before I forget they exist. But over the past couple of years, I’ve come across a handful of Australian-made apps that have genuinely stuck — either in my own routine or in recommendations from clients and friends.

Here are ten that I think are worth your time and phone storage.

1. Smiling Mind — Meditation and Mindfulness

Still the gold standard for free, evidence-based meditation in Australia. Developed by psychologists and educators, Smiling Mind offers programs for adults, teens, and kids. The workplace modules are particularly good — short, practical, and grounded in real research. I recommend this to almost everyone who asks me where to start with meditation.

Cost: Free Best for: Beginners and families

2. This Way Up — Mental Health Programs

Built by researchers at St Vincent’s Hospital and UNSW, This Way Up offers structured online programs for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. These aren’t fluffy self-help courses — they’re based on cognitive behavioural therapy and have been validated in clinical trials. Your GP can even prescribe some of the programs, which may make them free.

Cost: Free with GP referral, otherwise $59 per course Best for: People wanting structured, evidence-based programs

3. Upstreet — Financial Wellness

I know, finance isn’t traditionally “wellness.” But financial stress is one of the biggest drivers of anxiety in Australia, and pretending money doesn’t affect mental health is naive. Upstreet is a Melbourne-built micro-investing app that keeps things simple and transparent. Less stress about money means more bandwidth for everything else.

Cost: Free to start, small fees on investments Best for: People who want to start investing without the overwhelm

4. 28 by Sam Wood — Nutrition and Fitness

Love him or roll your eyes at him, Sam Wood’s 28-day program is well-designed. The meal plans are practical (not everyone has time to spiralise zucchini for breakfast), the workouts are scalable, and it’s built for Australian lifestyles and ingredients. The recipe library alone is worth it if you’re stuck in a dinner rut.

Cost: From $19/month Best for: People wanting combined nutrition and exercise guidance

5. Mentemia — Daily Mental Fitness

Co-founded by Sir John Kirwan, the former All Black who’s been open about his mental health journey, Mentemia treats mental health like physical fitness — something you work on daily. The app offers quick daily check-ins, breathing exercises, and personalised tips based on how you’re tracking. It’s straightforward and unpretentious.

Cost: Free (basic), premium plans available Best for: Daily mental health maintenance

6. Nourish’d — Meal Delivery Planning

Not technically an app, but their ordering platform works like one. Nourish’d delivers pre-made meals across Australia that are genuinely nutritious — not the sad steamed chicken and broccoli you might expect. They cater to various dietary needs, and the meals taste like someone who actually enjoys food made them. A good option for weeks when cooking feels impossible.

Cost: From $10.95 per meal Best for: Busy weeks when nutrition would otherwise suffer

7. Calm Harm — Self-Harm Support

Developed for young people who experience urges to self-harm, Calm Harm is based on dialectical behaviour therapy principles. It provides alternative coping strategies in the moment — breathing techniques, grounding exercises, distraction activities. It’s simple, private, and available when a person might not feel ready to talk to someone. Used widely by Australian youth mental health services.

Cost: Free Best for: Young people and anyone supporting them

8. Woebot — AI-Supported Mental Health

Woebot uses conversational AI to deliver CBT-based techniques through a chat interface. It’s not a replacement for therapy, but it’s effective for processing thoughts between sessions. Available 24/7, which matters when it’s 2am and your brain won’t switch off. Widely recommended by Australian clinicians.

Cost: Free Best for: Between-session support and after-hours check-ins

9. Yoga Wake Up — Morning Yoga Audio

Instead of an alarm that jolts you awake, Yoga Wake Up guides you through a gentle yoga sequence while you’re still in bed. Sessions range from 10 to 20 minutes. A far nicer way to start the day than immediately reaching for your email.

Cost: Free trial, then $9.99/month Best for: People who want a gentler morning routine

10. MindShift CBT — Anxiety Management

Created by Anxiety Canada but widely used in Australian clinical settings, MindShift teaches practical CBT strategies for managing anxiety. It includes thought journals, coping cards, and guided relaxation. The interface is clean and the content is solid.

Cost: Free Best for: Anxiety management with evidence-based tools

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

No app replaces professional support. If you’re dealing with serious mental health concerns, please see your GP and get a referral.

Also, be cautious with apps that promise dramatic transformation or collect excessive personal data. Check privacy policies — especially for mental health apps where the data is sensitive.

And remember, the best app is the one you’ll actually use. A simple breathing timer you open daily is worth more than a sophisticated platform you downloaded and never touched again.

Jess Morley is a Brisbane-based wellness writer and yoga instructor. She writes about evidence-based wellbeing at SoulShine.