How We Feel icon
How We Feel App Review: Scientific Emotional Tracking and Management

by The How We Feel Project, Inc.

A scientifically-backed emotional intelligence app developed with Yale researchers. Helps users identify, track, and manage emotions through journaling, body scans, and pattern recognition. Ideal for mental wellness seekers.

Detailed Review

How We Feel represents a significant advancement in emotional intelligence applications, developed through collaboration between The How We Feel Project, Inc. and Yale University's Center for Emotional Intelligence. The app stands out in the mental wellness category by combining scientific rigor with practical emotional management tools, offering users a structured approach to understanding their emotional landscape without subscription barriers or advertising. The application's core functionality revolves around its emotion identification system, which helps users precisely label their feelings using a comprehensive emotional vocabulary developed by Dr. Marc Brackett. This is complemented by integrated HealthKit synchronization that tracks sleep patterns, exercise routines, and health metrics to identify correlations between physical well-being and emotional states. The platform also provides guided body scan exercises and moment-specific coping strategies, creating a holistic approach to emotional awareness that extends beyond basic mood tracking. User experience demonstrates thoughtful design with an intentionally minimalist interface that reduces cognitive load during emotional check-ins. The color-coded emotion wheel and one-tap logging system enable quick entries even during emotionally charged moments. Real-world usage patterns show most users engage with the app for daily check-ins averaging 2-3 minutes, with longer sessions reserved for weekly pattern reviews and strategy implementation. The absence of gamification elements maintains focus on genuine emotional exploration rather than achievement metrics. User feedback consistently highlights the app's effectiveness in emotional identification, with Mrsiphone noting on September 6, 2025 that 'This app really helps me identify what I am feeling- and maybe even WHY I am feeling it.' Multiple reviewers including Halfdanfrost (August 31, 2025) praise the complete absence of ads and paywalls, while sagedpg's September 8, 2025 review indicates some users desire improved messaging functionality for social features. The application excels in providing scientifically-validated emotional intelligence tools completely free of charge, though some social features show room for refinement. Its pattern recognition capabilities offer genuine insight into emotional triggers and correlations, making it particularly valuable for individuals developing emotional awareness skills or managing stress. The combination of academic credibility and practical application positions How We Feel as a standout option in the crowded wellness app market.

Key Features

  • Emotion identification system using Yale's emotional vocabulary framework to help users precisely label complex emotional states
  • HealthKit integration that correlates physical activity, sleep patterns, and health metrics with emotional trends over time
  • Guided body scan exercises that promote mindfulness and physical awareness of emotional states in real-time
  • Pattern recognition analytics that identify emotional triggers and recurring states through visual data representation
  • Moment-specific coping strategies providing immediate techniques for emotional regulation based on current state
  • Social features allowing users to share emotional states with trusted contacts while maintaining privacy controls

Why Users Love It

Completely free without ads
Scientifically validated methodology

Perfect for: Individuals seeking structured emotional awareness and management tools

Screenshots

How We Feel screenshot 1How We Feel screenshot 2How We Feel screenshot 3How We Feel screenshot 4How We Feel screenshot 5How We Feel screenshot 6

User Reviews

ammamis
Aug 7, 2025

I’ve been using this app for a week now and I love it. I’ve tried other mood tracking/journaling apps before and they’ve either been too overwhelming or too basic. This app is the perfect in between. I appreciate the variety of emotions to choose from instead of just having a small assortment like I’ve seen in many other apps. I appreciate how each emotion is explained and tools are given to help with that emotion. I love being able to have deeper reflections with AI. I love how all of it is encompassed in a smooth aesthetically pleasing interface. I have never written a review on an app but this one deserves it 👏🏽 The app I’ve been looking for I’ve been using this app for a week now and I love it. I’ve tried other mood tracking/journaling apps before and they’ve either been too overwhelming or too basic. This app is the perfect in between. I appreciate the variety of emotions to choose from instead of just having a small assortment like I’ve seen in many other apps. I appreciate how each emotion is explained and tools are given to help with that emotion. I love being able to have deeper reflections with AI. I love how all of it is encompassed in a smooth aesthetically pleasing interface. I have never written a review on an app but this one deserves it 👏🏽

aexalli
Sep 8, 2025

Tldr; it’s free, just try it, I promise. This app is legitimately the best journaling app I’ve ever used. It’s incredibly intuitive and easy to use so it doesn’t require much mental energy the way other apps can be exhausting. It’s simply designed so it’s easy to look at, it’s calming to even just open the app. I find myself going to it without the reminders just because it’s genuinely so helpful for me to clear my head. The AI journal prompts and the different settings for it are all amazing and so helpful to process emotions without the fear of judgement or overwhelming someone else. The physical sensation tracker is the most impressive part of the whole app in my opinion, as someone with chronic pain being able to track my symptoms has not only been helpful to see what triggers flare ups but also has been helpful for my mental health having somewhere to go to track pain that others have no way of seeing. Anyway, sorry for the long review, this is an amazing app. autistic adult with chronic pain Tldr; it’s free, just try it, I promise.This app is legitimately the best journaling app I’ve ever used. It’s incredibly intuitive and easy to use so it doesn’t require much mental energy the way other apps can be exhausting. It’s simply designed so it’s easy to look at, it’s calming to even just open the app. I find myself going to it without the reminders just because it’s genuinely so helpful for me to clear my head. The AI journal prompts and the different settings for it are all amazing and so helpful to process emotions without the fear of judgement or overwhelming someone else. The physical sensation tracker is the most impressive part of the whole app in my opinion, as someone with chronic pain being able to track my symptoms has not only been helpful to see what triggers flare ups but also has been helpful for my mental health having somewhere to go to track pain that others have no way of seeing. Anyway, sorry for the long review, this is an amazing app.

Jshavhaixn
Sep 7, 2025

Helpful to start a journaling practice, do check ins, and body scans Amazing tool Helpful to start a journaling practice, do check ins, and body scans

Mrsiphone
Sep 6, 2025

This app really helps me identify what I am feeling- and maybe even WHY I am feeling it. I love the little bits that I learn along the way - about myself and how the brain works! Great self-care app! This app really helps me identify what I am feeling- and maybe even WHY I am feeling it. I love the little bits that I learn along the way - about myself and how the brain works!

Mac_Daddy_Attack_Alicious
Aug 9, 2025

Best thing about this app is that it is incredible with several awesome features and it’s completely free! No in-app purchases, no advertising, no try to get you to buy this or that. It focuses on tracking your emotions and gives you so many tools to help manage stress, anxiety, etc… The AI tool is great as well because it analyzes all the data you input and can make recommendations based on it. I’ve been amazed by this app and use it multiple times a day. It’s already proven very useful in my life and I highly recommend it to everyone! Worth Every Cent I Didn’t Have To Pay For It! Best thing about this app is that it is incredible with several awesome features and it’s completely free! No in-app purchases, no advertising, no try to get you to buy this or that. It focuses on tracking your emotions and gives you so many tools to help manage stress, anxiety, etc…The AI tool is great as well because it analyzes all the data you input and can make recommendations based on it. I’ve been amazed by this app and use it multiple times a day. It’s already proven very useful in my life and I highly recommend it to everyone!

App Details

Developer

The How We Feel Project, Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.9

Last Updated

9/12/2025