CNET Editors Name 7 Mental Health Devices and Apps That Work

What mental health devices and apps did CNET editors actually recommend?

CNET editors recommended seven tools they personally use: the Renpho x Headspace eye massager, the Finch self-care app, Headspace, the Ebb chatbot, the Moonbird breathing device, and additional apps and devices from their testing. They stressed these are products that worked for them, not medical treatments or cures.

The list comes from CNET's wellness team, who say they have tested most products claiming to calm you down and found few that live up to the promise. The seven they kept are the ones they still use regularly, chosen because they are easy and fun rather than feeling like another chore.

The recommendations mix hardware and software. The Renpho x Headspace eye massager and Moonbird are physical devices, while Finch, Headspace and Ebb are apps. Each targets a different moment: headaches, daily self-care, guided meditation or immediate emotional support.

Which free daily habits reduce stress without spending money?

CNET editors highlighted three free habits: going for a walk to boost serotonin through sunlight and movement, lying on the ground to breathe and regulate the nervous system, and the 3-3-3 rule for moments when anxiety takes over. None require a mat, app or subscription.

Walking is the simplest. Exposure to sunlight supports serotonin production, the neurotransmitter linked to feeling calm and happy, and varying the pace from a stroll to a run keeps it from becoming a chore. There is no correct way to do it beyond getting your body moving.

The 3-3-3 rule is a grounding technique: move three parts of your body, name three things you can see, and listen for three sounds. It pulls attention out of future worries and back to the present, and it can be done anywhere in under a minute.

1. Go for a walk, even a short one, and let sunlight and movement lift your mood.
2. Lie on your back and follow your natural breathing for a few minutes.
3. Use the 3-3-3 rule: move three body parts, name three things you see, listen for three sounds.

Why do CNET editors rate the Renpho x Headspace eye massager?

The Renpho x Headspace eye massager combines gentle heat and compression across the eyes and temples with nine built-in Headspace guided meditations. CNET editors say it relieves tension headaches in minutes and has no screens, making it a favorite part of their wind-down routine before sleep.

The device is lightweight, quiet and remembers your last settings. Buyers get a two-month complimentary Headspace membership, though the meditations are accessible directly through the device without pairing it to a phone.

One editor uses it most when a headache is starting or when they need to decompress before bed. The lack of a screen is a deliberate advantage: nothing to scroll, nothing to distract from the heat and compression.

Is Finch really free, and how does the self-care app work?

Finch is a self-care app built around caring for a cartoon bird, similar to a Tamagotchi for mental health. It runs on a free-first model, so about 95% of features are accessible without paying, which CNET editors call a major perk compared with subscription-only rivals.

You set daily goals, from simple tasks like drinking water to reading at night, and checking them off helps your bird thrive. A journeys feature adds guided programs, including one for managing anxiety and one that reminds you to walk after work.

One CNET editor has kept the habit for 215 days, crediting the app's gentle loop rather than willpower. The bird's progress mirrors the user's self-care, which makes the routine feel rewarding instead of obligatory.

How do Headspace, Ebb and Moonbird fit into a stress toolkit?

Headspace offers guided meditations, mindful movement videos and focus music that adapt to however much time you have. Ebb is a blob-like chatbot for processing emotions when you need immediate help, and Moonbird is a handheld device that paces your breathing. Together they cover meditation, quick emotional support and physical anxiety management.

Headspace is the app one editor keeps returning to because it does not talk down to beginners and meets you where you are, whether that is five minutes or a longer session. Ebb is explicitly not a replacement for therapy or long-term treatment, but it helps in the moment.

Moonbird is a handheld breathing device designed to guide deep breathing for anxiety. CNET's tester was initially unsure about the funky gadget, but it rounds out a toolkit that mixes software, hardware and free habits.

Bottom line

The seven devices and apps CNET editors recommend are worth considering, but the free habits matter more: a walk, floor breathing and the 3-3-3 rule cost nothing and work fast. Start with those, then add one paid tool aimed at your specific pain point, such as tension headaches or bedtime anxiety. If stress feels constant, talk to a professional rather than relying on gadgets alone.