Ranked & Reviewed · 2026
Best Kids & Teens Mental Health Apps
Mental health apps for young people need a higher bar: age-true content, real privacy, no manipulative monetization, and evidence-informed design. We review each with that bar in mind. Apps can teach kids emotional skills, but a struggling child or teen needs adults and professionals involved — never an app alone.
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
4.4Sesame Workshop’s free emotional-skills app — a furry monster teaches toddlers to breathe, think, and do.
Free · Free tier: Yes
Clear Fear
4.2A clinician-designed, charity-built CBT app for teen anxiety — free, private, and age-true.
Free · Free tier: Yes
Frequently asked questions
What is the best kids & teen right now?+
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame earns our highest rating in this category (4.4/5). Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame distills emotional regulation to a toddler-runnable program: help a frustrated monster friend take three belly breaths, think of plans, and try one. Free, ad-free, research-informed, and built by the most trusted name in early childhood media. For ages roughly 2–5, it is the best first emotional-skills app that exists.
Is there a good free option?+
Yes — Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame offers a usable free tier. Sesame Workshop’s free emotional-skills app — a furry monster teaches toddlers to breathe, think, and do.
Are these apps a replacement for therapy?+
No. These are wellness and support tools. They can help with everyday stress, sleep, and mood, but they are not a substitute for professional care. If you are struggling, a licensed professional can help; in a crisis, contact your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988.