Heart Health Apps to Recommend to Patients

Smartphone health apps offer a convenient way for patients to engage in self-care, providing resources from medication adherence tools to health tracking.

Like other chronic diseases, effectively managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) involves extensive self-care and behavioral changes. 

By 2021, 90% of households in the United States had a smartphone, and 64% had a tablet, making apps a valuable means of access. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials concluded that mobile health apps may reduce rates of major adverse cardiac events and hospital readmissions, among other benefits.

Here are some apps, for both Android and iOS, aimed at heart health that may help patients with various types of CVD.

The following options may help patients learn about cardiovascular health and manage key daily tasks of their self-care:

• CardioSmart360: This free app, produced by the American College of Cardiology, is available for iOS, Android, and web use. It provides information on conditions, treatments, risk factors, and heart function, as well as a drawing suite for physicians to use as a visual aid for patients.
• CardioVisual: The CardioVisual app provides diabetes and cardiovascular disease education. It includes shareable videos with a wide variety of content aimed at both clinicians and patients, facilitating connectivity and the coordination of care. 
• Medisafe: This is a medication reminder app that also offers drug interaction warnings, family tracking services, appointment reminders, and condition resources. It can integrate with Apple Health to track vitals and allow users to communicate or share this information with their nominated doctors.
• Heart & Stroke Helper: This app works as a self-management tool, allowing patients at risk of CVD to track lifestyle habits and progress, cholesterol levels, and medication use. Produced by the American Heart Association (AHA)
  
  

  Trusted Source

  
  American Heart Association
  Highly respected national organization
  Go to source
  , it also provides patients with trusted information and opportunities to connect with peers.

Apps that can help patients monitor and share basic measures of cardiovascular function include:

• KardiaMobile: KardiaMobile pairs its app with a compact, clinical-grade EKG monitor that has FDA clearance for detecting atrial fibrillation and other health concerns. Patients can record and email their results to their medical team.
• Instant Heart Rate: This app uses a smartphone’s camera to measure heart rate through the fingertips. It graphs results and can provide printable reports that patients can share with you. It is currently endorsed by Stanford Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco.
• Qardio: This Android and iOS app works with Qardio devices, such as arm cuffs, to track heart health information like heart rate and blood pressure. Its data is shareable, and it can pair with smartwatches.
• Smart Blood Pressure: This app replaces a written journal for tracking blood pressure, pulse, and weight. It can sync with Apple Health or Google Fit and provide shareable reports.

Nutrition and activity apps include programs that track personal habits, as well as those that offer key guidance:

• Pacer: Pacer is an Android and iOS-friendly step tracker that has in-app fitness plans, workout videos, challenges, and community interaction. It has a free version and can also track and convert other activity types.
• Fooducate: The Fooducate app provides a macronutrient, calorie, water intake, and exercise tracker, featuring an in-built barcode scanner that enables users to quickly scan and upload foods. Patients can also select their preferred dietary plans and receive recommendations for health conditions.
• Sworkit: This app and website offer fitness programs that users can tailor to their specific goals, current fitness level, and ability.

Other apps that patients managing heart conditions may find useful include:

• stress management apps, such as for guided meditation or journaling
• psychotherapy apps, such as FreeCBT
• in-built phone apps — most smartphones have their own versions of health and activity trackers and reminders
• workout or exercise plan apps
• smoking or alcohol cessation apps, such as:

These are just a sample of the heart health and wellness apps available. Patients may need to be reminded that finding the right personal tools can take some trial and error.

Overall, there is a lack of scientific evidence for the usability and clinical potential of heart health apps. 

Researchers have called for more professional review of mobile heart health apps. Until more solid regulations and evidence for these apps are available, try to recommend only apps that have credible developers, declare their sources, and are regularly updated. These apps may be more likely to have accurate, quality-controlled information.

A Swiss narrative review of 20 mobile health apps and wearable devices, published in 2025, reported that:

• 20% were medically certified
• 35% provided information without academic or clinical references
• 40% provided information from evidence-based research
• 75% adhered to the General Data Protection Regulations
• 95% had privacy policies

The reviewers also reported that 12 out of 22 of the medical wearables were medically certified, while 77% referenced scientific or peer-reviewed research.

All apps come with important considerations for patients and their personal information. Questions to review with patients include:

• Are they willing to pay for an app?
• Are they willing to invest in any necessary pairing device?
• Does the app support sharing or exporting information?
• Is the information securely encrypted?
• Does the app share their information with a third-party company or database?
• Does the app pose a privacy risk with location tracking?

Ensure to remind patients that apps can be useful tools for help with self-care and daily management, but they cannot replace regular care from their medical team.

Many apps can help patients manage CVD and adhere to medically necessary self-care, including providing help like:

• medication reminders
• vital sign monitoring
• physical activity trackers and programs
• diet trackers and nutritional advice

A lack of professional review, regulation, and medical accreditation is a significant limitation of using health apps. Users should also be aware of each app’s privacy policies, cost, and data security.

Still, apps can be a valuable resource when used in conjunction with professional guidance.