SoberTool vs Sobermark: recovery programme or private tracker?

SoberTool and Sobermark both help people stay stopped, but they come at the problem from very different directions. SoberTool was made by an addiction counsellor and reads like a companion to recovery itself: daily readings, encouragement rooted in recovery thinking, and help aimed at the moments cravings hit. Sobermark is a tracker. It counts your days, shows what you have saved, and stays out of the way.

Full disclosure: Sobermark is our app, so we are not neutral. We have tried to keep everything below fair, and we tell you when a rival is the better fit.

And here that happens quickly: if you want guidance, daily words to hold on to, and something with the flavour of a recovery programme, SoberTool is free and it is the better fit. If you want a private, quiet counter with no programme content at all, that is Sobermark's whole reason for existing.

A counsellor's companion versus a plain counter

SoberTool's character comes from its author. It was built by an addiction counsellor, and its best known feature is the daily reading: a short piece each day to steady you, in the tradition of recovery literature. It also offers help when a craving strikes, walking you through the moment rather than just timing it. If you have been to meetings, or the language of recovery already means something to you, SoberTool will feel familiar in a good way. It is also known for being free, which matters when money is one of the reasons you are quitting.

Sobermark carries no programme. There are no readings, no steps, no recovery framework of any kind. It gives you a day counter, milestones and badges, and Bern, a friendly sun bear who offers steady encouragement without attaching it to any philosophy. Some people find programme language motivating. Others find it puts them off opening the app at all. Sobermark is for the second group.

What you actually do in each app

A day with SoberTool tends to start with the reading, and the app is there again when cravings arrive, offering something to read and think through in the moment. The habit it builds is reflective: a few minutes of input each day.

A day with Sobermark is quieter. You glance at your counter, maybe log a mood in the journal, and get on with your life. The app turns your own numbers into money saved, time reclaimed and units avoided, so progress shows up in pounds and hours rather than sentiments. When a craving does hit, Sobermark has its own SOS tools: a hold-on breathing exercise and a ride-it-out timer that keeps you company until the wave passes. And on the good days there are shareable progress cards, for when you want to show someone how far you have come.

If you slip, Sobermark resets the counter and says nothing unkind. No streak shaming is a design rule, not an accident. SoberTool, to its credit, also comes from a tradition that treats relapse with compassion rather than judgment.

Privacy and cost

Sobermark asks for no account and no sign up. Your entries never leave your phone, and there are no feeds, forums or community features by design. It is free for core tracking; Sobermark Pro costs £14.99 a year with a 7 day free trial, £2.99 a week, or £24.99 once for lifetime access.

SoberTool is known for being free, which is a genuine point in its favour. For its account requirements, data handling and any current extras, check its store listing rather than taking our word for it. We would rather undersell a rival than misdescribe one.

Side by side

	SoberTool	Sobermark
Made by	An addiction counsellor	One developer in the UK
Approach	Daily readings, recovery-programme flavour	Private tracker, no programme content
Craving help	In-the-moment guidance	Breathing exercise and ride-it-out timer
Stats	Day counting and savings; check listing for detail	Money saved, time reclaimed, units avoided
Habits covered	Rooted in alcohol recovery	Alcohol, smoking, vaping, weed, gambling or custom
Account needed	Check current listing	No account, data stays on your phone
Price	Known for being free	Free core; Pro £14.99/year, £2.99/week or £24.99 lifetime

Who should pick what

Pick SoberTool if you want more than counting: a daily reading to anchor the morning, a counsellor's voice in your pocket, and the feel of a recovery programme without the cost of one. It is free, so trying it risks nothing. If the language of recovery helps you, this is honestly the better app for you.

Pick Sobermark if programme content is exactly what you do not want. Some people quit best with a quiet, private counter, concrete numbers, and a warm mascot instead of a curriculum. Sobermark also covers habits beyond alcohol, from vaping to gambling to anything custom, in one place.

Pick something else entirely if you want people around you: I Am Sober's community and daily pledges suit that far better than either app here. And iPhone users should note that Sobermark is Android only for now.

Common questions

Is Sobermark a recovery programme?

No, and it does not pretend to be. It is a tracker with craving tools, a journal and stats. If you want structured recovery content, SoberTool or a real-world programme will serve you better.

Which app is better for habits other than drinking?

Sobermark is built for any habit you are quitting: alcohol, smoking, vaping, weed, gambling or a custom one. SoberTool's roots are in alcohol recovery, though its craving help travels well.

Do the apps cost anything?

SoberTool is known for being free. Sobermark's core tracking is free too, with Pro at £14.99 a year after a 7 day trial, £2.99 a week, or £24.99 lifetime.

Can I use both?

Yes, and some people do: SoberTool for the daily reading, Sobermark for the private counter and stats. They do not conflict.