A quit smoking app is a smartphone application that provides useful tools for people who want to stop smoking.
A quit smoking app can be downloaded and installed in minutes and can start helping you the first time you open it up. Some quit smoking apps promote a gradual approach to quitting, while others bolster your efforts to quit ‘cold turkey’.
Regardless of how long you have been smoking or how many failed attempts to stop you have made in the past, a quit smoking app can help. Most are available free of charge or for a modest monthly fee.
Below is our list of the best quit smoking apps of 2023.
Rankings
1. QuitNow!
QuitNow! offers a wealth of positive reinforcement, reminders of how much you are saving by not smoking, and a helpful answer-bot that seeks out solutions to your tough questions. The app is well-designed and very easy to use.
What we like: The daily progress reports are a nice touch. The answer-bot does a good job tracking down answers to your cigarette-related questions. And the app puts you in touch with lots of others also trying to quit so you can help and support each other.
Flaws: Graphics are not going to blow you away. And it does not offer words of encouragement during the day etc.
2. Flamy
Flamy is a slick-looking quit smoking app that provides two different ways to approach quitting. You can choose to step away slowly using the ‘One less every day’ approach. Or take a faster route to a smoke-free life with the ‘14 day challenge’.
What we like: Multiple options are almost always a good thing. The app has a very compelling look that draws you in even if you do not have anything in particular on your mind. And there are lots of helpful tips and hints.
Flaws: The free version of the app has a lot of ads.
3. Smoke Free
The Smoke Free app takes the approach that, when it comes to quitting smoking, more is better: more tools, more approaches, more online coaches. You might think the resulting app would be a confusing mess. But that is not the case.
What we like: We like that they provide myriad ways to approach quitting. The Quit Smoking Tracker is a nice feature, as are the achievement badges. It is also nice that they provide a ‘health improvement’ tracker so you can see the tangible benefits of quitting.
Flaws: The price for the free version is an unrelenting sales pitch.
4. My Last Cigarette
My Last Cigarette was one of the original quit smoking apps, and it is still going strong some 20 years after its invention. There is no arguing with the thousands of ex-smokers it has created. And the fact that it is free is just icing on the cake.
What we like: We were not impressed with the look of this app. But it is logically arranged and provides a multitude of helpful stats and graphs that guide you through recovery and demonstrate the ongoing positive benefits.
Flaws: iOS only. It does not really provide much motivation as you proceed.
5. Kwit
If you think quitting smoking is a humorless endeavor, think again. Kwit incorporates gaming elements that lighten things up and let you smile a bit while you navigate the path to your new status as an ex-smoker.
What we like: This app looks great and features easy navigation. There are plenty of achievement metrics you can use to bolster your resolve. And it adds a game-like element that makes it less dry than some other quit smoking apps.
Flaws: Some functionality offered in earlier free versions has now migrated to the pay version. And some of the motivational sayings redefine ‘trite’.
6. Quit Smoking
There is nothing spectacular or extraordinary about the Quit Smoking app. But what they offer is easy to make use of and has helped lots of people stop smoking and stay stopped. And that is the bottom line.
What we like: You have a lot of ways to create and track goals. You have the ability to monitor the ever-increasing health benefits of not smoking. And there is a large community you can plug into.
Flaws: Heavy on the advertisements. Limited currency conversion options. Not enough proofreading of their content.
7. EasyQuit
EasyQuit may be the best looking quit smoking app out there. Fortunately, it is also brimming with useful content that supports its ‘take it easy’ approach to quitting. It is also free, which helps explain why it has been downloaded more than 1 million times.
What we like: We appreciate all the thought that obviously went into the design of this app. It is a pleasure to work with. We like the memory games that take the focus off of cravings, and the whole thing runs smooth as silk.
Flaws: There are quite a few ads, selling quite a few things.
8. Quit Tracker
Quit Tracker touches all the quit smoking app bases with plenty of motivational stats, lots of useful tips, and the ability to track how not smoking is benefitting you physically.
What we like: The Quit Tracker does just that: tracks the various physical and financial benefits of leaving cigarettes behind. Layout is easy to master, even if some of the type is too small for older folks.
Flaws: Not much to look at. And it is a bit light on motivation. And some of their health benefit claims should be taken with a grain of salt.
9. Quit it Lite
Quit it Lite is a kind of ‘Up with Non-Smokers’ program that will tell you how awesome you are for not smoking. It provides a lot of data regarding money saved and health benefits earned, among other things.
What we like: Quit it Lite is light on entertainment value but heavy in when it comes to providing motivation and tracking your progress. It lets you set custom goals and tracks them beginning to end.
Flaws: Does a better job tracking than motivating. The interface could use a remodel.
10. Smokerface
You never heard of ‘smoker’s face’? Smoker face is what happens to the oxygen-deprived skin of the long time smoker. This ingenious app provides maybe the most brutal and convincing motivation there is to quit: a picture of what you will look like if you do not.
What we like: Stats and snazzy digital trophies are all very well and good. But nothing drives home the effects of smoking like seeing how it plans to disfigure you. Smokerface is scary and fun and useful, all at the same time.
Flaws: Some people might find it a little heavy-handed. Also, some of the ‘after’ pictures are a bit over the top.
Who Needs A Quit Smoking App?
If you have decided that it is time to finally put your smoking experience in the rearview mirror, a quit smoking app can help. They provide the tips and tools a smoker needs to make smoking a thing of the past. Many quit smoking apps are available free of charge, while others provide their invaluable service for a modest fee.
If you are like most long-term smokers, you have already tried on numerous occasions to quit. Maybe you were able to stop for a short time but picked back up again. Or maybe nothing has bought you even a few days’ respite from your cigarette habit.
If that describes your situation, you owe it to yourself to try a quit smoking app. They are like having a quit smoking coach and support team at your beck and call 24 hours a day as you navigate the treacherous early stages of a smoke-free life.
How We Ranked
Smoking is considered more difficult to quit than heroin, alcohol or cocaine (1). That is the consensus of both healthcare professionals and those who have suffered multiple addictions that included cigarettes. For that reason, there is no room for half measures when it comes to quit smoking apps. If a particular app did not rate highly among those who used it, you will not find it on our list.
So, when ranking quit smoking apps, their ability to deliver on the ultimate goal has to come first. But it is not as simple as one app providing useful tools while another one does not. Often, an app that seems like it should be helpful is not, because a poor design makes it difficult to understand and use. And if you are in the midst of a cigarette craving, the last thing you want is to be fumbling with a poorly designed app. Instead, you want the assistive tools to be right there at your fingertips, ready to help.
Cost was also a consideration when ranking for our list. Many quit smoking apps are totally free. But just as many, or more, are free to download but come with so-called ‘in-app purchases’. In some cases, an in-app purchase may be a fee you are charged to use the app after you have installed it. While in other cases, they may be add-ons, premium features, or even subscriptions to additional services not clearly associated with quitting smoking. So, quit smoking apps with sneaky or excessive in-app purchases did not rank for our list.
FAQs
Q: What is a quit smoking app?
A: A quit smoking app is a smartphone application (2) that provides insights, tips, encouragement, and more, all so that you can free yourself from your cigarette addiction. There are scores of quit smoking apps available today, and many can be downloaded free of charge. If, like most smokers, you have tried other ways of quitting with no success, you owe it to yourself to try a quit smoking app.
Q: How much does a quit smoking app cost?
A: Many quit smoking apps are free to download and use. Many developers who offer for-pay apps also provide stripped-down versions of their apps for free. So there is nothing standing in your way of giving quit smoking apps a try.
Q: Where can I get a quit smoking app?
A: You can get a smoking app at the Google Play store, iTunes, The App Store, and dozens of other online locations. In most cases, the website will determine what kind of device you have and tell you if the app will work with your phone or not. But there is little to worry about. Other than the possibility that the app may be Android or iOS only.
Q: Do I have to provide personal info to get a quit smoking app?
A: You may have to open an account with Google Play or The App Store or another service to download an app. Typically that entails providing a valid email address and something like your date of birth. You may also need to provide answers to a couple of security questions. If you are going to purchase an app, you will need to provide credit card info, billing address, and more.
Q: Do quit smoking apps really work?
A: A quick scan of user feedback indicates countless people believe a quit smoking app has helped them quit. Many indicate they had tried other methods prior to trying the app without success. So, if the anecdotal evidence (3) is any guide, then it is fair to say that quit smoking apps do work for many people. That alone, however, is no guarantee that a quit smoking app will work for you.
Q: Is there more than one kind of quit smoking app?
A: There are more than a hundred quit smoking apps readily available through Google Play or The App Store. And while many of them share some similarities, each tends to present itself in its own, individual way. So if you like what one app has to offer but do not like their presentation, you will probably be able to find another app that will be more to your liking. The important thing is to keep looking until you do.
Q: Does a quit smoking app guarantee I will quit smoking?
A: No. There is no way for an app to guarantee a person will quit smoking. But that is also the case for every other method designed to help you stop. There is simply no way to determine who will take advantage of a particular method and quit, and who will not. Success in such matters is almost entirely dependent on an individual’s personal motivations. Although there is some evidence (4), genetics may play a role in helping some people quit more easily than others.
Q: Why should I quit smoking?
A: With all the damage cigarette smoke can do to your lungs, heart, brain, loved ones, bank account, lifespan and more a much better question is: why should you continue to smoke? There are few accessories of modern life, with the possible exceptions of guns and alcohol (5), that cause more damage than cigarettes. And there are few things sadder than a life cut short because a person wanted to quit, but never got around to it.
Q: What should I do if the quit smoking app does not work?
A: As we have pointed out, the number and variety of quit smoking apps is vast. So if you find that a particular app is not producing the desired result, try another one. Many of them are free, so you have nothing to lose. The most important thing is that you do not give up simply because one app was not particularly helpful.
Q: What is ‘smoker’s face’?
A: Smoker’s face is not just a scary story invented by opponents of smoking. It is a real thing that can be observed in virtually anyone who has smoked for more than a few years (6). Smoker’s face is typified by sallow-looking skin, wrinkles, and the general tendency toward premature aging. There is a quit smoking app that uses an algorithm to take photos of your face and project what you will look like in the future if you do not quit.
Q: Why is it so hard to quit smoking?
A: Heroin addicts have been known to say that it is harder to quit cigarettes than heroin. There are a number of possible reasons for this, beginning with the fact that smoking is legal. (If smoking were truly dangerous, it would be illegal. Right?) Other possible reasons have to do with the pseudo-sacramental nature of smoking (7), and the fact that it involves most of the senses. Whereas something
Q: Why will a quit smoking app work when other methods fail?
A: Most people who successfully quit smoking did not succeed on their first attempt. Many of these individuals repeatedly tried to quit using different methods before they were finally able to stop. Just because you were unable to quit before does not mean you should stop trying. A quit smoking app is one more tool you can use that may end up helping you leave this expensive, destructive addiction behind once and for all.
Q: Is it true I will get fat if I quit smoking?
A: It is true that during the early stages of quitting, some people put on weight (8). Usually, though, weight gain associated with quitting smoking is modest. And most people who quit long term return to normal, healthier eating habits. If you put on a few pounds during the process of overcoming your addiction, do not be too hard on yourself. In the long run, it will be easier to lose a few pounds than to overcome lung cancer.
Q: What if I am tempted to smoke?
A: The urge to smoke is typically short-lived. So what is necessary is to develop tools for getting from the beginning of the urge to the end, some minutes later. One way is to avoid triggers. Triggers may be anything from hanging with friends who smoke, to alcohol, or even too much coffee (9). Many smoking apps have features that distract you for a few minutes until the temptation has passed.
Q: Does it help to set a quit date?
A: Some people find setting a quit date helpful. But there is little evidence to support the idea that it makes much difference. It also does not help to quit for other people. Because if you have a falling out with one of them, you could use that as an excuse to smoke again. You need to want to do it for yourself. The mere fact that you are considering quitting indicates the desire is there. Now you need to act on it.
Q: Can I just get hypnotized?
A: It is true that many people have used hypnosis to quit smoking. But hypnosis does not work for everyone, for reasons are complicated, to say the least (10). Hypnosis can also be expensive. And it can set you up for a huge letdown. How? Well, if the hypnosis does not work, you may feel like nothing will work and stop trying to kick the habit. Again, hypnosis may work. But when it comes to quitting smoking, there are no guarantees.
Recap
A quit smoking app can enable you to finally leave smoking behind. It can help free you from the specter of smoking-related disease and premature death. And it can help elevate the quality of life for yourself and your loved ones.
Many quit smoking apps are available free of charge, are easy to install, and easy to use. Different quit smoking apps use different mechanisms to achieve the ultimate aim, but none require you to make any extravagant purchases. Instead, they provide simple, effective tools for coping with various aspects of cigarette withdrawal, as well as other tools that help you stay stopped.
All of the quit smoking apps on the above list have been thoroughly vetted by our product review team and have proven their worth. If you find that one has not helped you quit smoking, simply try another. With patience and persistence, you will be able to reach your objective of a smoke-free life.
For cpoe.org’s #1 recommended quit smoking app, click here.