Ranking updated
Apps like Finch: self-care pet apps in 2026
For a bonsai that grows with your water, sleep, food and tasks, all kept on your phone, SelfOS. For a virtual pet you feed and play with as you meet self-care goals and journal, Amaru. For a mood journal where your feelings become creatures to befriend, Voidpet Garden. For a pet next to habits, a planner and focus timers, Cub. For a pet that grows as you tick off your daily to-do list, Otto. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we read each app’s own App Store description for what makes the companion grow, which self-care it tracks, habits, mood, journaling, sleep or tasks, and where your data lives. These are wellbeing apps, not medical care. We do not quote prices; check them in the store for your country. For self-care routines without a pet, see our guide to self-care apps.
A bonsai that grows with your day
SelfOS brings self-care and productivity into one calm place, with a bonsai you plant on day one: every day you show up, a glass of water, a completed task, a good night’s sleep, it grows through new stages, fireflies and blooming. Around it sit water with one-tap glasses and reminders, nutrition with a barcode scanner, sleep duration and quality, activity, daily tasks with subtasks and time blocks, goals with steps and deadlines, habit check-ins and shopping lists, with weekly and monthly stats for each. Your data lives on your phone with no account required, no ads and no tracking.
A pet to care for, or feelings to befriend
Amaru is a self-care game: you feed, pet, customise and play minigames with Amaru while being rewarded for taking care of yourself, through goal-setting, mindfulness and journal activities, and explore the world of Enso to unlock his story. It says all the self-care features are free and runs a system to donate the full game to people in financial need. Voidpet Garden turns a mental health journal into a garden where your emotions live as magical creatures: prompts inspired by CBT and DBT, a mood tracker to notice patterns of anxiety, anger or stress, gratitude journaling, goal setting, emotional naming, affirmations and minute meditations.
Pets for habits, focus and your to-do list
Cub pairs an interactive pet with a habit tracker and daily planner: the more you take care of yourself, the more your Cub thrives, and it adds Pomodoro timers, gentle reminders and structured planning for focus, a mood and reflection log, and bite-sized lessons on anxiety and time management, with ADHD in mind. Otto is a virtual pet that grows as you complete your daily to-do list: you start the day with goals, energise Otto for its adventures, review progress in the evening and unlock rewards and new items, with a planner, habit tracker and journal in the same app.
| App | Companion | Grows when you | Also inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| SelfOSCensuusApp StoreGoogle Play | a bonsai tree | drink water, finish a task, sleep well | nutrition, sleep, activity, tasks, goals, habits |
| AmaruApp Store | a virtual pet with a story | meet self-care goals | journal, mindfulness, minigames |
| Voidpet GardenApp Store | creatures for your emotions | fill your journal | mood tracker, CBT and DBT inspired prompts |
| CubApp Store | a pet cub | take care of yourself | habit tracker, planner, Pomodoro timer, mood log |
| OttoApp Store | a virtual pet | complete your daily to-do list | habit tracker, planner, journal |
Frequently asked questions
What are some apps like Finch?
SelfOS grows a bonsai as you look after yourself, Amaru is a virtual pet rewarded for self-care goals, Voidpet Garden turns your journal into creatures, and Cub and Otto are pets that grow with your habits and tasks.
Is there a self-care pet app for ADHD?
Cub and Otto both describe support for ADHD: Cub with Pomodoro timers, reminders and structured planning, Otto with a planner, to-do list and habit tracker.
Which self-care pet app has a mood journal?
Voidpet Garden is a mental health journal with a mood tracker and CBT and DBT inspired prompts, Cub has a mood and reflection log, and Amaru includes journal activities.
Which self-care app keeps data on my phone?
SelfOS keeps your data on your phone, with no account required, no ads and no tracking.