Five Apps that can help you quit smoking 

Quitting smoking is difficult because nicotine is highly addictive and smoking becomes a daily habit. Many people who try to quit end up returning to it due to cravings, stress, or insufficient support.

However, mobile phone apps can help a great deal by offering regular guidance, motivation, and simple tools. 

Research shows that quit-smoking apps that provide behavioural support help more people quit than trying to stop without help.

In this article, Tribune Online explores 5 apps that can help you quit smoking 

1. Smoke Free

Smoke Free is a popular quit-smoking app. It helps users track how many days they have not smoked, shows improvements in their health, and gives tips to deal with cravings and stay on track.

A randomised controlled trial published  in the Journal of Medical Internet Research showed that smokers who downloaded and used the Smoke Free app were significantly more likely to be abstinent from smoking at follow-up than those who did not use it, especially among people who actively engaged with the app.

2. Kwit

Kwit combines scientifically supported psychological techniques with game-like progress tracking. It uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, which are proven in clinical research to help people change habitual behaviour, including addiction. 

3. quitSTART

quitSTART  is a science-based app to help people quit smoking, offering daily tips, tailored challenges, and progress monitoring. It provides features to support users when cravings occur and helps them keep track of smoke-free achievements.

4. QuitSure

QuitSure is a smartphone app that uses behaviour change principles, including cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness, to reduce cravings and challenge beliefs that sustain smoking. 

A prospective trial published on PubMed (in JMIR Formative Research) reported that over half of participants who completed the QuitSure programme remained smoke-free for 30 days after finishing the app-based course.

5. QuitBot and AI-based quit support

QuitBot is an AI-powered quit-smoking tool developed by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. It provides personalised, conversational support, almost like having an on-demand quit coach in your pocket, with guidance grounded in behavioural science. 

While larger clinical outcome trials are still emerging, research on conversational chatbots in smoking cessation shows that AI chat tools can enhance engagement and provide tailored behaviour change support.