Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSign-UpHow I Used ReflectlyPros & ConsFinal Thoughts
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sign-Up
How I Used Reflectly
Pros & Cons
Final Thoughts
As a mom of four who works part-time, I sometimes feel out of touch with myself and my emotions. Something is always demanding my attention so I don’t always have the presence of mind to pinpoint what I’m feeling and what circumstances may have triggered these emotions.
I’ve also been diagnosed with adultADHD, and, even thoughmindfulnesshas been suggested to me time and time again, it’s a practice I’ve had a hard time sticking with for more than a few days at a time. This is what drew me toReflectly, an app that offers digitalmood journaling. I wanted to try it with the hope that it would help me become moreself-aware. The app uses daily notifications meant to prompt users to assess their mood and keep a snapshot of their day.
I tried both the free and premium versions over the course of 30 days, using it daily, and while I found the app easy to use, at times it felt so simple it was underwhelming. Read on to learn more about my experience with Reflectly.
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How I Signed Up
At sign-up, I had the option to choose between the free Reflectly app or upgrade to Premium (which costs $19.99 annually on Android or $59.99 annually on iOS).
I wanted to compare the two, so I decided to try out the free version first. Then, I checked out Premium.
I’m an Apple user, so I paid $29.99 for my first year as part of a promotion, which would increase to $59.99 if I continued using it for a second year. Android users get a much better deal, paying $19.99 annually for premium.
Streamlining subscriptionsI did download these extra apps I got with my premium subscription but felt they could have been streamlined as one app to cut back on the clutter on my phone.
Streamlining subscriptions
I did download these extra apps I got with my premium subscription but felt they could have been streamlined as one app to cut back on the clutter on my phone.
Each time I opened the free version of the app, Reflectly encouraged me to buy the premium version. Otherwise, I could still track my mood and journal, leave a voice memo, or upload a photo of my day.
Reflectly
It is also worth noting that, since I paid for a year upfront, I wasn’t able to cancel my Reflectly subscription. I also couldn’t turn off the auto-renew in the app. Instead, I had to go to the Apple App Store and navigate to my profile and then my subscriptions. From this page, I was able to turn off the auto-renew that would occur in 2024.
Daily useDaily use is mostly focused on a mood check-in, which is pretty simple.
Daily use
Daily use is mostly focused on a mood check-in, which is pretty simple.
Next, I was prompted to choose how I felt about what I shared so far from icons representing emotions includinganxious, happy, excited, and bored. If I wanted to, I could add my own emotions as well. To complete the check-in, I needed to do some writing. This is an incredibly simple, no-frills aspect of the app. It is one field that prompts you to add a title that is 40 characters or less and a second field that prompts you to add some notes. The notes don’t appear to have a character limit, as I was never cut off even when I wrote multiple paragraphs.
There weren’t directions or prompts for completing the writing part of the daily mood check-in, and Reflectly doesn’t add much explanation on the purpose of this exercise. Instead, the website states the journal is meant for you to “reflect on your daily thoughts and problems.”
The mood check-in was the main function of the app, but I could also participate in a daily challenge. These included taking myself to a nice dinner, drawing a picture, or similarself-careactivities.
ConsistencyWhile I tried to stay consistent, I was glad to see it wasn’t a big deal if I missed a day here and there.
Consistency
While I tried to stay consistent, I was glad to see it wasn’t a big deal if I missed a day here and there.
One aspect of the app I didn’t love was the notifications I received while using it.
The app sent me quotes multiple times a day, and I thought they were pretty corny and stereotypical and just added digital clutter to my life.
I decided to turn them off altogether in my profile settings—there is also the option to limit when these positivity reminders are sent and how many you receive in a day.
The most helpful part of the app for me was the daily reminders to check in with myself. These are notifications on my phone, which I scheduled when I first downloaded the app.
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Pros and Cons
Reflectly is an easy-to-use mood-tracking app. Overall, the app felt underwhelming and I would recommend the free version over the premium services. That said, here are my pros and cons.
ProsEasy to useSupports digital mood trackingAd-free premium version availableFree access to additional apps with premium versionFree option availableCustomizable notification settingsConsValue may not match the costMay feel too simplePositivity focus can mean negative experiences aren’t acknowledgedCan’t cancel in-app
ProsEasy to useSupports digital mood trackingAd-free premium version availableFree access to additional apps with premium versionFree option availableCustomizable notification settings
Easy to use
Supports digital mood tracking
Ad-free premium version available
Free access to additional apps with premium version
Free option available
Customizable notification settings
ConsValue may not match the costMay feel too simplePositivity focus can mean negative experiences aren’t acknowledgedCan’t cancel in-app
Value may not match the cost
May feel too simple
Positivity focus can mean negative experiences aren’t acknowledged
Can’t cancel in-app
After using Reflectly for a month (and trying both the free and premium versions), I don’t think that the app’s value matches the cost of the premium version.
I wouldn’t choose to pay for the app again as I could simply set an alarm on my phone and journal in my notes app or on pen and paper.
The only thing exceptional I felt I was paying for was the snapshot of my mood stats over time. However, even that could be replicated on paper with a little effort.
One big plus for me, though, was having the ability to customize the notification settings. This allowed me to eliminate the notifications that were bothersome while still holding onto the notifications for the journaling portion of the app.
Overall, the journaling portion of the Reflectly app was the most beneficial for me.
It helped me gain a self-awareness I’ve been struggling to practice with the distractions of everyday life.
Hannah Owens, LMSW
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