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Stop help on your phone
Quit an app? Yes! For many people, an app on their phone is a great support. You see how many cigarettes you have not smoked and also immediately how much money you save. Two good intentions in one fell swoop, that’s a win-win! These are the five best apps.
An app that helps you to quit smoking, does that really work? Yes, says the National Expertise Center Tobacco Control of the Trimbos Institute. They selected five of the best smoking cessation apps, all of which are based on scientific research.
Just an app?
Although apps can indeed provide support for smoking cessation, research also shows that most people quit successfully through a combination of professional guidance and nicotine replacement products. So see the apps mainly as a helping hand when you try to quit and as a nice reminder of how many cigarettes you have not smoked.
1. Quiddy
Quiddy is a free app specially developed for young adults between the ages of 16 and 25 who want to quit smoking. The app matches you to a peer who also wants to quit smoking and has the same reason as you. For example, you both want to save money, or get healthier. You may also have the same pitfalls. Do you both find it difficult not to smoke at a party? Or after a stressful day? Then you can support each other in the moments that you both find difficult!
The Quiddy app lets you do the following:
• Quiddy matches you with a peer who also wants to quit smoking. For example, you have the same goal (such as saving money) or the same pitfall (smoking when stressed).
• Chat with a peer or call De Stoplijn
• Help in difficult moments: Press the emergency button and chat with a buddy
• Playing games
2. The Stop Coach![](https://www.plusonline.nl/sites/plusonline/files/styles/wysiwyg/public/stopcoach.jpg?itok=i63y3Rqm)
De Stopcoach can also be downloaded for free for IOS and Android. With this app you can choose a digital stop coach that will help you stop for 8 weeks. This way you get tips that suit you well. The Stopcoach was developed by the Trimbos Institute, Pharos, Brthrs Agency and the Leiden University Medical Center.
The Stopcoach lets you follow different steps and helps you prepare for quitting smoking, choose your quit day, and persevere. You can also do exercises to resist the urge to have a cigarette. This can help in difficult moments. In addition, you can see how many cigarettes you have not smoked and how much money you have saved.
The Stopcoach is based on the English app Stopadvisor. That app was developed and researched by University College London. This shows that people continue to stop after using the English app. The app has not (yet) been assessed by the Center for Healthy Living of the RIVM.
- 8 weeks of smoking cessation counseling
- personal advice
- Motivational Messages
- Tips to stay stopped
- Personal stories of other people who have quit smoking
3. Stop buddy
Stopmaat also helps you resist the urge to have a cigarette. This app was developed by the Saxion Foundation, in collaboration with Tactus Addiction Care, Medisch Spectrum Twente and the University of Twente. It is available for Android and IOS.
Stopmaat offers a ‘buddy’ who will assist you if you are going to stop smoking. This buddy helps you to set personal goals. You can also call or chat with this buddy. That’s how you get through difficult moments. The app sends reminders of your personal goals to keep you motivated. You can also keep a diary. If you feel like a cigarette, you can play a game and read tips from other quitters.
Stopmaat is based on scientific research. But no scientific research has been done on how many people stop using the app.
- Call or chat if you feel like smoking
- personal advice
- Set goals that help you stay stopped
- Distraction when you feel like smoking
4. Flamy
Flamy has a lot of features. This app keeps track of how much your body recovers after quitting smoking and how much money you have saved. You can also keep a log. If you feel like a cigarette Flamy can distract you in several ways. So you can play multiple games or read motivational quotes. There is also a ‘helper’ available to assist you if you are tempted to smoke or have smoked. You can also invite friends to quit smoking via Flamy. This way you can take on the challenge together.
Flamy is only for Android. No scientific research has been done on how many people stop using the app.
- Games that distract you from the urge to smoke
- Mapping your smoking behaviour
- Set goals
- Stop together with friends
- See how much money you save
5. Smoke Free
The Smoke Free app uses multiple scientific techniques to aid in smoking cessation. In the app you can keep track of when you feel like a cigarette. The app then gives personal advice on how to deal with this. Smoke Free shows your progress with pictures and graphs. This can be your health, but also how much money you have saved. If you choose to do so, you can also participate in an experiment in the app that can help other people stop smoking.
This app is based on scientific research. But no research has been done on how many people stop using the app. This app has been assessed by ORCHA, an international organization that assesses apps in the field of health. Currently, Smoke Free has the highest score of all quit smoking apps that ORCHA has rated. It is available for Android and IOS.
- Keeping difficult moments in a log
- Share successes with friends
- 90 day quit smoking program
- See how much you save
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