Apps and online care
Smiling Mind vs Rootd
They differ on 6 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Smiling Mind
You pick short guided meditations or programs for yourself or your child (ages 5–12), for things like stress, calm and sleep, and can check in on your mood.
Rootd
You open Rootd during a panic attack and tap one large button; it then guides your breathing and grounding step by step.
Where they differ
- Good for
- Smiling Mind: Families who want free mindfulness exercises for children aged 5–12; Adults who want a free meditation app with no subscription
- Rootd: People who get panic attacks and want a guided tool to use in the moment; Learning what happens in the body during panic so it feels less frightening
- Probably not for
- Smiling Mind: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Rootd: Anyone in crisis or thinking about suicide: call or text 988
- Cost
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Rootd: Free version, or Free; Full Access about $79.99/year or $199 lifetime
- How you pay
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Rootd: Free, I'll pay myself
- Research
- Smiling Mind: Some research support
- Rootd: Early research
- HIPAA
- Smiling Mind: No
- Rootd: Not stated
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), where (iphone, android), privacy (grade c), sells your data (no).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.