Looking for a mental health app without an AI chatbot? 10 apps with no AI chat feature listed (October 2026)
I'm Dr. Nicholas Gehle, a licensed clinical psychologist, and I make Strua, one of the apps below. Each app is described from its App Store listing or official site, checked on October 6, 2026. The source for each is named in the table. If something here is out of date, email hello@strua.app and I'll fix it.
Why people are looking
Some people want to practice a skill without typing to a bot. Some have privacy concerns. The landscape is also shifting: Woebot's consumer app was retired in June 2025 (as reported by HLTH), and Youper's site says it discontinued its services on September 30, 2026. Meanwhile some well-known apps have added AI. Headspace, for example, now includes Ebb, which Headspace describes as an empathetic conversational AI.
How I compared them
- "No AI chat listed" means the app's current App Store page or official site doesn't list an AI chat feature as of October 6, 2026. It doesn't prove an app uses no AI anywhere.
- Prices are list prices from each app's checked source on October 6, 2026.
- The storage column only says where entries are stored when the checked source says so. Unknown means unknown, not less private.
The comparison
| App | What it's for | Who makes it | AI chat listed? | Price | Where entries are stored (per checked source) | Source checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strua | Self-guided coping practices | Designed by a licensed clinical psychologist (me) | No ("no chatbot" by design) | 23 practices free with no time limit; Pro $9.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $149 lifetime | "Core reflection content is designed to stay on your device" | strua.app pricing, homepage and About pages (fetched live Oct 6, 2026) |
| MindShift CBT | Anxiety tools, including a thought journal and meditations | App Store lists 247 Labs Inc. as developer | No | Free | Not established by the checked source | App Store listing |
| Daylio | Mood and activity tracking, with stats | Relaxio | No (voice logging via Siri only) | Free; Premium available | Stored locally on your phone, with optional Google Drive or iCloud backup | App Store listing |
| PTSD Coach | Symptom tracking and coping tools after trauma | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (National Center for PTSD) with the DoD's DHA Connected Health | No | Free | Not established. The VA notes the app is only as secure as your device. | VA mobile site |
| CBT-i Coach | A companion for people receiving CBT-I treatment for insomnia | VA National Center for PTSD, with Stanford University and the DoD | No | Free | Not established (same VA security note) | VA mobile site |
| MoodMission | Coping "missions" matched to how you feel | MoodMission Pty Ltd., founded by clinical psychologist Dr. David Bakker and co-led by Assoc. Prof. Nikki Rickard | No | Free; paid plans available | Not established by the checked source | App Store listing; maker details from the official site and Monash University |
| Rootd | Panic and anxiety support with a panic button and breathing | Simply Rooted Media | No | Free; paid plans available | Not established by the checked source | App Store listing |
| mySleepButton | A sleep-onset app using the cognitive shuffle | CogSci Apps (Dr. Luc Beaudoin) | No | Free base; paid packs | Not established. The site says it doesn't require you to enter personal data. | Official site + App Store |
| Finch | A self-care pet you look after by looking after yourself | Finch Care | No | Free; Plus available | Not established by the checked source | App Store listing |
| Calm | Meditation, sleep stories, relaxation | Calm.com | None listed on its App Store page | Subscription | Not established by the checked source | App Store listing (calm.com could not be loaded) |
If you DO want a chatbot
Wysa describes itself as an AI chatbot app, and Headspace's Ebb is a conversational AI inside Headspace's paid plan. They're worth knowing about, and they're not what this page is for.
How to choose (no rankings, just fit)
- If the hard moment is anxious thoughts that loop, MindShift CBT's thought journal, MoodMission's missions or Strua's practices are options to look at.
- If it's a busy mind at bedtime, mySleepButton uses the cognitive shuffle, and Strua has wind-down practices.
- If it's panic, Rootd has a panic button and breathing support.
- If you want to see patterns over weeks, Daylio offers mood and activity tracking with stats.
- If you're receiving CBT-I treatment for insomnia, the VA's CBT-i Coach is a free companion. PTSD Coach is free from the VA too.
A note on what apps are for
Strua is a self-guided coping skills app, not therapy. If you're in emotional distress in the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7: call or text 988. More options: strua.app/crisis
About Strua, briefly
Strua has no chatbot by design. It's a self-guided coping skills app, and 23 practices are free.
Try Strua free →