31 Self-Improvement Apps If You're Trying to Reinvent Yourself

Looking for the best apps for self-improvement? Find out which life-changing tools can help you grow and reach your goals! From the award-winning microlearning app like Headway to wellness programs like Intellect and Headspace, the following list of apps will help you improve your lifestyle through organization and skill-building.

Some apps help you kill time. Headway helps you make the most of it — with short, impactful learning formats, progress tracking, and a design featured by the App Store. It’s personal growth, always one tap away.

Using tools for personal development can benefit your mental and physical health, including learning new skills, reading more books, and even drinking more water! 

So, if you're thinking about taking the plunge toward creating a better you, start by downloading a self-growth app (or several!) and enjoy your wellness journey!

The five self-improvement apps to install now

• Impulse — A brain training app with quick, entertaining mind games and personalized workout plans to improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.

• Headway – Microlearning app, offering 15-minute book summaries from bestselling authors and interactive challenges to help you learn smarter.

• MyFitnessPal – Fitness and nutrition tracker with progress reports and nutritional insights.

• Headspace – A mindfulness and meditation app offering guided meditation sessions for stress relief, improved sleep, and enhanced mindfulness.

• Nibble – An all-around knowledge app with interactive 10-minute lessons and quizzes to help you gain more knowledge in less time.

31 must-have apps for self-growth: Learning, productivity, health, and more

During your self-improvement journey, you may need some help and support along the way. Here are some of the best productivity apps designed to help you lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. We organized them by category to help you find exactly what you need.

Learning and knowledge apps

1. Headway

Headway is a microlearning app that transforms bestselling nonfiction books into 15-minute summaries, making personal growth accessible even with the busiest schedules.

Who it's for: Busy professionals, students, and anyone who wants to learn from top authors but lacks time to read full books.

Key features:

• Over 2,000 text and audio book summaries.

• Personalized recommendations based on your goals.

• Available for both iOS and Android.

• Gamified challenges and an achievement system.

• Progress tracking and reading streaks.

• Available offline for learning on the go.

How it helps you grow: Replace mindless scrolling with meaningful learning. You'll gain insights from world-class experts in psychology, productivity, and personal development. 

You can start to build better habits and a mindset for free today with a 7-day trial. After the trial period ends, you will be able to read one summary per day for free.

2. MasterClass

MasterClass offers video courses taught by trusted experts across various fields. You can find everything from cooking classes to writing or business workshops.

Who it's for: Lifelong learners and creative professionals who want to learn from the best in their field.

Key features:

• Classes taught by celebrities and industry leaders.

• High-production value video lessons.

• Downloadable workbooks and assignments.

• Mobile and TV streaming capabilities.

• New classes are added regularly across 100+ topics.

How it helps you grow: Learning from masters exposes you to different perspectives and techniques. You'll develop expertise while inspiring creative thinking. This supports your professional growth, too.

3. Evernote

It is a comprehensive note-taking app that captures, organizes, and syncs your ideas, documents, and research across all your devices with powerful search capabilities.

Who it's for: Students, researchers, writers, and professionals who need to organize large amounts of data for easy retrieval.

Key features:

• Rich text formatting with multimedia support.

• Web clipper for saving online articles and research.

• Powerful search including text within images.

• Notebook organization with tags and shortcuts.

• Document scanning with automatic enhancement.

How it helps you grow: Creating systems to capture and organize thoughts improves learning habits. You'll retain information more effectively, and this helps you build knowledge over time.

4. Microsoft OneNote

It is a digital notebook that allows you to capture and share notes across devices with a free-form canvas approach to data management.

Who it's for: Students and professionals who prefer a notebook-style approach to organizing information and ideas.

Key features:

• Free-form pages with drawing and typing capabilities.

• Section and page organization system.

• Audio and video recording with note synchronization.

• Search across handwritten and typed content.

• Integration with the Microsoft Office suite.

How it helps you grow: OneNote's flexibility matches natural thinking patterns. You'll capture ideas and create mind maps more creatively. At the same time, you can develop organizational and planning skills. 

5. Readly

It is a digital magazine and newspaper subscription service that provides access to thousands of publications from around the world.

Who it's for: Information seekers, current events enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys diverse reading material but wants to avoid multiple subscriptions.

Key features:

• Access to over 6,000 magazines and newspapers.

• Offline reading with automatic downloads.

• Family sharing with up to 5 profiles.

• Search functionality across all publications.

• Cross-device synchronization.

How it helps you grow: Staying informed broadens your knowledge base. You'll also improve conversation skills and make better personal decisions. 

Language learning apps

6. Babbel

It is a language learning app that teaches practical conversation skills through interactive lessons. Here language experts design content, with a primary focus on real-world communication.

Who it's for: People who want to learn a new language for career or personal growth.

Key features:

• 14 languages available with expert-crafted lessons.

• 15-minute daily lessons that fit any schedule.

• Speech recognition technology for pronunciation practice.

• Grammar and vocabulary exercises.

• Offline mode for learning anywhere.

How it helps you grow: Learning languages expands your worldview and boosts brain function. You can be sure that this app will open doors to new cultures and opportunities.

7. Preply

It is a language learning platform that connects you with expert tutors for 1-on-1 video lessons, offering customized instruction tailored to your goals and learning pace.

Who it's for: People who prefer live talks with a teacher and personalized feedback.

Key features:

• Access to over 100,000 professional tutors in 50+ languages.

• An interactive virtual classroom with a whiteboard and screen sharing.

• Flexible scheduling with tutors available 24/7.

• Speaking tracker to monitor conversation progress.

• Vocabulary flashcards and review exercises.

How it helps you grow: One-on-one interaction with expert tutors speeds up learning. Also, you get personalized feedback and real conversation practice.

8. Duolingo

It is a gamified app that makes studying feel like playing a game. Duolingo offers lessons in over 40 languages through funny exercises and story-based learning.

Who it's for: Learners who appreciate gamification that allows them to learn a new language.

Key features:

• 40+ languages available completely free.

• Gamified learning with XP points, streaks, and leaderboards.

• Adaptive technology that personalizes difficulty levels.

• Speaking and listening exercises with voice recognition.

• Stories are a feature for reading comprehension.

• Duolingo Max with AI-powered explanation and roleplay features.

How it helps you grow: Gamification makes language learning addictive in a good way. You'll build consistent daily habits naturally and expand vocabulary and grammar knowledge through repeated practice.

Health and wellness apps

9. Intellect

It is a mental health app that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques with self-care tools to help overcome stress, anxiety, and emotional issues.

Who it's for: Anyone dealing with burnout, anxiety, or stress who wants to develop healthier thought patterns and emotional management skills.

Key features:

• CBT-based Learning Paths (4-week programs).

• Mood tracking and emotional insights.

• Personality test for personalized recommendations.

• Written, visual, and audio content.

• Professional mental health guidance.

How it helps you grow: You'll learn to challenge negative thought patterns and build emotional resilience. It's a must-have if your goal is to create sustainable self-care practices.

10. MyFitnessPal

It is a comprehensive fitness and nutrition tracker that helps you monitor calories, macronutrients, and exercise activities with one of the world's largest food databases.

Who it's for: Anyone wanting to lose weight, build muscle, or maintain a healthy lifestyle through better nutrition and fitness tracking.

Key features:

• Database of over 14 million foods with barcode scanning.

• Calorie and macro tracking with detailed breakdowns.

• Exercise logging and integration with fitness devices.

• Progress photos and weight tracking.

• Community support and recipe sharing.

How it helps you grow: Understanding eating patterns creates awareness around food choices. Even with a free version, you can develop discipline and self-control with food to support your long-term health goals.

11. Headspace

It is a meditation and mindfulness app that provides guided sessions, breathing exercises, and sleep stories to reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

Who it's for: Beginners to meditation or stressed individuals who want to improve their emotional shape, or consider meditation as an instrument for improving sleep quality or overall well-being.

Key features:

• Guided meditations from 3 to 20 minutes.

• Sleep stories and calming soundscapes.

• SOS sessions for moments of high stress.

• Mindful movement and focus music.

• Progress tracking and streak counters.

How it helps you grow: Regular meditation improves self-awareness and emotional control. You'll manage stress better and make better decisions. Additionally, your focus time will finally be about you, rather than social media, friends, or other distractions.

12. My Water

My Water is a hydration tracking app that sends personalized reminders and helps you build the habit of drinking adequate water throughout the day.

Who it's for: Anyone who struggles to drink enough water.

Key features:

• Personalized daily water intake goals.

• Smart reminder notifications.

• Multiple drink options (water, tea, coffee, juice).

• Achievement badges and progress tracking.

• Integration with health apps and wearables.

How it helps you grow: Proper hydration improves brain function and energy levels. This creates a foundation for better productivity and health. 

13. Sleep Monitor

It is a sleep tracking app that analyzes your sleep patterns and provides insights to improve your sleep quality.

Who it's for: Anyone experiencing problems with sleep or curious about their sleep patterns.

Key features:

• Automatic sleep tracking and analysis.

• Sleep talk and snoring detection.

• Smart alarm with optimal wake-up timing.

• Sleep sounds and relaxation music.

• 21-day better sleep challenges.

How it helps you grow: Quality sleep improves mental clarity and emotional stability. It supports physical health too. According to sources such as the Sleep Foundation, the World Economic Forum, Healthline, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, better sleep patterns improve every area of life.

14. MadMuscles

MadMuscles is a personalized fitness app designed specifically for men, offering customized workout plans, meal guidance, and progress tracking to help build muscle and improve physique.

Who it's for: Men who want to build muscle, lose weight, or get shredded through structured workout programs that can be done at home or in the gym.

Key features:

• Personalized workout plans.

• Video tutorials with proper form demonstrations.

• Exercise swap options for preferred movements.

• Meal plans with grocery lists and nutrition guidance.

• Progress tracking with analytical reports.

• Sync with Apple Health and Google Health.

How it helps you grow: Structured fitness plans help you develop discipline and consistency. You'll build physical strength and confidence and improve overall health and self-image.

15. Sweat

Sweat is a fitness app designed by and for women, featuring programs from world-renowned trainers like Kayla Itsines, with workouts ranging from HIIT to strength training.

Who it's for: Women of all fitness levels looking for structured workout programs, community support, and expert guidance from female trainers who understand women's fitness journeys.

Key features:

• Over 60 programs and 13,000+ workouts.

• Programs for pregnancy and post-pregnancy fitness.

• Home and gym workout options.

• Video demonstrations and exercise substitutions.

• Community challenges and "sweaty selfie" sharing.

• Meal plans with 200+ recipes.

• Daily step and hydration tracking.

How it helps you grow: Build physical and mental strength with a supportive community. You'll develop consistency and confidence, and extend healthy habits beyond fitness into all life areas.

Task and project management apps

16. Todoist

It is a task management app that helps you capture, organize, and complete your to-do items with natural language processing and smart scheduling.

Who it's for: Productivity enthusiasts, busy professionals, and anyone who wants to get more organized and reduce the mental load of remembering tasks.

Key features:

• Natural language processing for quick task entry.

• Project organization with subtasks and sections.

• Priority levels and deadline tracking.

• Karma system for motivation and productivity insights.

• Integration with 60+ apps and services.

How it helps you grow: Getting tasks out of your head frees mental energy. This to-do list app helps you build discipline and follow through on your commitments.

17. Asana

Asana is a project management and team collaboration platform that helps you track work progress, manage deadlines, and coordinate with others effectively.

Who it's for: Team leaders, project managers, freelancers, and anyone managing multiple projects or collaborating with others on shared goals.

Key features:

• Multiple project views (list, board, timeline, calendar).

• Task dependencies and milestone tracking.

• Team collaboration with comments and file attachments.

• Custom fields and advanced search capabilities.

• Integration with popular business tools.

How it helps you grow: Managing projects effectively develops leadership and communication skills. You'll learn to break down complex goals, which makes you more valuable professionally and personally.

18. Trello

Trello is a project management tool based on the Kanban board system. It helps to organize tasks and track progress.

Who it's for: People who prefer a straightforward process of working and collaborating with others.

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop card interface with customizable boards.

• Checklists, due dates, and member assignments.

• Power-ups for enhanced functionality.

• Real-time collaboration and activity feeds.

• Mobile apps with offline capabilities.

How it helps you grow: Visual project management helps you understand workflow better. You'll develop organizational skills and see big pictures, and balance detail management effectively.

19. ClickUp

It is an all-in-one productivity platform that combines project management, time tracking, goal setting, and team collaboration in a highly customizable workspace.

Who it's for: Power users, growing teams, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants maximum flexibility in how they organize and track their work and goals.

Key features:

• Multiple project views and custom workflows.

• Time tracking with detailed reporting.

• Goal setting with automatic progress tracking.

• Document creation and wiki functionality.

• Extensive automation and integration options.

How it helps you grow: ClickUp's complete approach helps you develop systems thinking. You'll improve project management skills and create accountability structures. This supports consistent progress toward bigger goals.

20. Notion

It is an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, databases, project management, and collaboration tools in a highly customizable interface.

Who it's for: Students, professionals, big and small businesses, and organized individuals who want a single platform for planning, note-taking, and project management.

Key features:

• Customizable pages with blocks (text, images, databases).

• Template gallery for various use cases.

• Real-time collaboration and sharing.

• Database functionality and dashboards with filters and sorting.

• Web clipper for saving online content.

How it helps you grow: Organizing thoughts and projects in one space improves planning. You'll reduce mental clutter and create systems. This supports consistent progress toward goals.

Time management apps

21. TickTick

It is a task management app that includes to-do lists, calendar scheduling, and habit tracking in one comprehensive productivity platform.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to manage tasks, habits, and time.

Key features:

• Smart date parsing and multiple reminder options.

• Pomodoro timer built into tasks.

• Calendar view with task integration.

• Habit tracking with statistical insights.

• Location-based reminders and voice input.

How it helps you grow: Combining task management with time tracking develops complete productivity. You'll maintain consistent progress across all life areas.

22. Pomodoro Timer 

The Pomodoro Timer implements the Pomodoro Technique. This tool will help you break work into 25-minute intervals, followed by short pauses to rest. 

Who it's for: Students, remote workers, anyone who struggles with focus, and people looking to improve their time management and work efficiency.

Key features:

• Customizable work and break intervals.

• Task integration and progress tracking.

• Statistics on completed pomodoros and productivity.

• Background sounds and focus music.

• Goal setting and achievement tracking.

How it helps you grow: The Pomodoro Technique trains your brain to focus, so you can gradually increase your attention span and work more efficiently. This also prevents burnout while completing important tasks.

Team collaboration apps

23. Google Calendar

It is a time management app that helps you schedule appointments and organize your daily activities with seamless integration across all your devices.

Who it's for: Busy professionals, students, and anyone who wants to take control of their schedule and improve time management skills.

Key features:

• Multiple calendar views (day, week, month, agenda).

• Smart scheduling suggestions and conflict detection.

• Integration with Gmail and other Google services.

• Shared calendars for team collaboration.

• Goal tracking and automatic scheduling.

How it helps you grow: Good time management reduces stress and increases productivity. You'll prioritize what matters most to achieve a better work-life balance.

24. Google Drive

It is a cloud storage service that provides file storage, sharing, and collaboration capabilities with integrated productivity apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Who it's for: Anyone who needs reliable file storage, students working on projects, and teams requiring collaborative document editing.

Key features:

• 15GB of free cloud storage with upgrade options.

• Real-time collaboration on documents and spreadsheets.

• Automatic syncing across devices.

• Advanced sharing permissions and access controls.

• Integration with Google Workspace apps.

How it helps you grow: Organized, accessible storage reduces stress and improves collaboration. You can work efficiently from anywhere and always have the files you need to share with your team.

25. Zoom

It is a video conferencing platform for online meetings, webinars, and team collaboration. Similar to Google Meet, Zoom can greatly facilitate remote work and online learning.

Who it's for: Remote workers, students, professionals who need reliable video communication for completing tasks.

Key features:

• The video and audio conferencing.

• Screen sharing and virtual whiteboard collaboration.

• Recording capabilities for meetings and webinars.

• Breakout rooms for small group discussions.

• Integration with calendar and productivity apps.

How it helps you grow: Mastering virtual communication skills is important today. Zoom helps build confidence in remote presentations. It also helps to expand learning opportunities and maintain professional relationships anywhere.

26. Slack

Slack is a workplace communication platform that organizes team conversations into channels, direct messages, and integrated workflows to streamline collaboration.

Who it's for: Remote teams, businesses, community groups, and anyone who needs organized communication and collaboration with multiple people or projects.

Key features:

• Organized channels for different topics and projects.

• Direct messaging and group conversations.

• File sharing and integration with productivity tools.

• Search functionality across all conversations.

• Custom notifications and status updates.

How it helps you grow: Using Slack effectively teaches digital communication skills. You'll build professional relationships and collaborate efficiently, and this works great for remote environments.

27. Gmail

It is Google's email service that offers advanced organization features, integration with Google services, and powerful search capabilities to manage your digital communications.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants efficient email management, professionals dealing with high email volumes, and people seeking better organization of their digital communications.

Key features:

• Smart compose and reply suggestions.

• Advanced filtering and labeling system.

• Integration with Google Calendar and Drive.

• Powerful search with operators and filters.

• Offline access and mobile optimization.

How it helps you grow: With Gmail, you can free up time for important activities, reduce stress, and improve communication skills.

28. Outlook

Outlook combines email, calendar, and contact management in one integrated platform, offering powerful organization tools for personal and professional communication.

Who it's for: Business professionals, anyone using Microsoft 365, and people who prefer integrated email and calendar management in a single application.

Key features:

• Integrated email, calendar, and contacts.

• Advanced email rules and organization.

• Meeting scheduling with availability checking.

• Task management integrated with email.

• Cross-platform synchronization.

How it helps you grow: Outlook's complete approach improves time management skills. You'll maintain professional relationships more effectively and support productivity and organization in daily work.

29. Dropbox

It is a cloud storage service that provides secure file storage and collaboration features.

Who it's for: Professionals or individuals who need storage and shared access to files across multiple devices and collaborators.

Key features:

• Automatic file synchronization across devices.

• Advanced sharing controls and collaboration tools.

• Version history and file recovery options.

• Integration with popular productivity apps.

• Offline access to selected files.

How it helps you grow: Good file management reduces stress about losing work. Dropbox helps to improve collaboration skills and create organized systems, and this supports long-term projects and goals.

30. Google Docs

It is a word processor that enables real-time collaboration and seamless sharing of documents.

Who it's for: Students, writers, and teams that need collaborative document creation and editing capabilities.

Key features:

• Real-time collaborative editing with a comment system.

• Automatic saving and version history.

• Voice typing and smart suggestions.

• Integration with Google Drive and other Google services.

• Offline editing capabilities.

How it helps you grow: Google Docs develops collaborative writing skills. With AI features, you can learn to give and receive feedback effectively, and keep all important information organized.

31. Microsoft Whiteboard

It is a digital canvas that enables visual collaboration, brainstorming, and idea organization through drawing, sticky notes, and multimedia integration.

Who it's for: Team facilitators who need visual practices to problem-solve. Also, a Whiteboard can be helpful for any individual who prefers visual tools.

Key features:

• Canvas, sticky notes, shapes, and template library.

• Image insertion and text recognition.

• Real-time collaboration with multiple contributors.

• Integration with Microsoft Teams and other Office apps.

How it helps you grow: Using visual thinking tools like a Whiteboard will boost your creativity and problem-solving skills. You'll be able to communicate complex ideas more effectively, turning you into a more creative and collaborative thinker, even with the free productivity app.

Start your self-improvement journey with Headway

The Headway app stands out as a powerful self-improvement tool to help you achieve your goals with concise 15-minute summaries of bestselling nonfiction books like 'Think and Grow Rich!' by Napoleon Hill and Ross Cornwell, 'Change Your World' by John C. Maxwell and Rob Hoskins, and 'Mini Habits' by Stephen Guise.

Coupled with interactive challenges and features like progress trackers and personalized recommendations, Headway creates a customized growth plan based on your personal goals. 

Download the Headway app today to gain exclusive access to a library of over 2,000 book summaries on leading self-improvement topics.