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A quit app won’t stop cravings on its own, but it can keep you motivated, show your progress, and give you something to do when a craving hits. The best part: several good ones are free. Here’s how the most popular options compare.
Quick comparison
| App | Price | Platforms | Standout feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quitSTART | Free | iOS, Android | Made by Smokefree.gov; tips, challenges, slip recovery | A trustworthy free start |
| QuitNow | Free, optional upgrades | iOS, Android | Community chat, milestones, built-in quit course | Social support |
| Smoke Free | Free, optional upgrades | iOS, Android | Daily missions and milestone tracking | Daily structure |
| Kwit | Free, optional upgrades | iOS, Android | Motivational messages and milestones | Motivation and gamification |
| Quit It Lite | Free | iOS, Android | Simple goal and progress tracker | Minimalists |
| Pouch Quit / QuitNicPouches | Free, with paid premium | iOS | Logs pouch count and strength; taper plans | Quitting Zyn and other pouches |
[VERIFY: upgrade prices and platforms on each app store page before publishing.]
quitSTART: best free app
quitSTART comes from Smokefree.gov, a program of the National Cancer Institute developed with the FDA and cessation experts. It helps you prepare to quit, track smoke-free milestones and earn badges, manage cravings and bad moods, and get back on track if you slip. It’s completely free, with no upgrades.
Get quitSTART from Smokefree.gov
QuitNow: best for community
QuitNow has been around since 2011 and has millions of installs. It tracks days smoke-free, money saved, and cigarettes avoided, with dozens of milestones. It also has a community chat, a structured quit course inside the app, and monthly live sessions with a smoking-cessation expert. The core app is free; extras are paid.
Smoke Free: best for daily structure
Smoke Free gives you a daily mission and tracks your milestones, which suits people who like a task to focus on each day. It’s free to download with optional in-app purchases.
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Kwit and Quit It Lite: simple trackers
Kwit leans on motivational messages and game-like milestones. Quit It Lite is a no-frills progress tracker with no in-app purchases. Either works well if you mainly want to watch your streak and savings grow.
Best apps for quitting pouches
Most quit apps count cigarettes, which doesn’t fit how pouches are used. Newer apps such as Pouch Quit and QuitNicPouches let you log pouch count and nicotine strength, choose tapering or cold turkey, and track cravings and triggers. Pair one with our 28-day Zyn taper plan.
Don’t forget free text programs
If you’d rather not install anything, text support works too. Text QUIT to 47848 (SmokefreeTXT), DITCHVAPE to 88709 (This is Quitting, for vaping), or text CRAVE to 47848 for help in the moment. See all options on our Free Help page.
How to get the most out of a quit app
- Set your quit date in the app on day one.
- Turn on notifications for your riskiest times (mornings, after meals).
- Log cravings honestly. The patterns tell you where you need a better plan.
- Use the app alongside a quit aid. Apps help with the habit; quit aids help with withdrawal.
Prefer paper?
Our free printable 30-day plan works alongside any app, or instead of one.
Sources: Smokefree.gov: quitSTART · Medical News Today: Quit smoking apps · QuitNow app listing · Pouch Quit (App Store) · QuitNicPouches. App features and prices change. Check the app store before downloading.