The Most Popular Programming Languages in 2025

Since 41% of Americans own wearable devices (smartwatches or fitness trackers), fitness isn't just a lifestyle—it's a trillion-dollar digital gold rush. From tracking 10,000 steps to crushing personalized HIIT workouts, fitness apps are the new personal trainers.

In this article, we will explore the meaning of a fitness tracker app, its key features, market overview, trends, deployment steps, and monetization tips. 

Fitness Software Development Overview

The fitness app market reached $9.25 billion in 2023 alone. COVID-19 forced a shift from gyms to virtual training, and the numbers prove it: downloads soared, and daily active users hit new highs.

The fitness apps market is surging at 14.08% annually, reshaping how people stay active. Moreover, with 94% of Gen Z on board with the rise of gadget usage, ready to embrace fitness apps as their go-to wellness tool, the market growth won't stop here. By 2029, it's projected to add size at 13.2%, and the market is set to hit $10.06B.

It seems there's no turning back for digital fitness.

Understanding Fitness Tracker Apps

To understand what a fitness tracker app is, think of it as a personal digital assistant that logs physical activities and health metrics.

Fitness tracker apps use built-in or connected devices' sensors—such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS, and heart rate monitors—to collect real-time data on movement, physiological changes, and sleep cycles.

If we look at how fitness tracker apps work, we will see that they visualize progress through graphs and charts—many sync with smartwatches or fitness bands to improve tracking accuracy.

Categories of Fitness Apps

Though by definition, it is clear that fitness apps monitor fitness data, they cover and support many other functions. Among them are wellness, nutrition, and mental well-being. Below, we'll break down six main categories.

Activity Tracking Apps

Activity tracking apps count each step taken. They are often paired with smartwatches or fitness bands to offer detailed activity achievements. Users can monitor their progress toward daily goals, like achieving 10,000 steps, using visual graphs and statistical data. Additionally, these apps show calories burned and may include sleep pattern analysis.

Examples: Fitbit, Google Fit, Strava.

Exercise and Training Apps

Exercise and training apps deliver structured programs for strength building, cardio improvement, and weight loss. They include video demonstrations and detailed instructions while tracking progress. Some apps extend their focus to running, cycling, and personalized nutrition plans.

Examples: Nike Training Club, MyFitnessPal.

Meal Planning and Nutrition Apps

Nutrition apps record calorie consumption and macronutrient breakdown. They include food logging, barcode scanning, and personalized meal plans. Users set clear dietary goals, whether for weight management, muscle development, or improved eating habits.

Examples: Lose It!, Yazio.

Mental Health and Mood Monitoring Apps

Mental health and mood monitoring applications help users keep track of their emotions and reduce stress. They entail mood diaries, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and CBT techniques.

Examples: Headspace, Calm. 

Yoga and Meditation Apps

Yoga and meditation apps deliver structured yoga sessions and meditation guidance. They feature pose libraries and allow customized audio or video instruction sessions. Users benefit from increased flexibility, reduced stress, and clearer mental focus.

Examples: Down Dog, Insight Timer, and Asana Rebel.

Personal Coaching Apps

Personal coaching apps link users with professional coaches or trainers for customized fitness and health advice. The apps provide one-on-one support, personalized workout or nutrition plans, and scheduled accountability check-ins. This makes them suitable for people with specific objectives, like marathon training or long-term weight loss. Apps blend technology with human coaching to create a tailored experience and interactivity.

Examples: Noom, Trainerize.

Key Features of a Fitness Tracker App

A standout fitness tracker app grabs users with bold tools and electric energy. Here's what every app demands:

Activity and Step Tracking

Monitors daily motion and calorie consumption, presenting progress and history through simple visuals like graphs and charts.

Health Monitoring

Top apps track health data like heart rate and stress. They use sensors to give users accurate, ongoing updates and alerts.

Sleep Tracking and Analysis

A must-have for understanding sleep patterns—duration, quality, and stages (light, deep, REM). Top apps analyze this data to offer actionable tips for better rest, like adjusting bedtime routines.

Goal Setting and Progress Tracking

Allows users to set custom goals (e.g., 10,000 steps/day or 8 hours of sleep) and track progress over time, with visual milestones or rewards to enhance engagement.

Routes and Mapping

Uses GPS to map routes, track pace, and log elevation for outdoor enthusiasts like runners or cyclists. Plus, it allows them to review or share their paths.

Notifications

Timely reminders to move, drink water, or hit daily targets keep users on track. The app should balance usefulness with avoiding notification fatigue.

Integration with Wearable Devices

Ensures seamless syncing with smartwatches or fitness bands (e.g., Apple Watch, Fitbit), providing a unified experience across devices.

Social and Gamification Features

It adds leaderboards, challenges, and friend connections to make fitness fun and competitive, with gamification like earning badges—boosting long-term use.

Personalized Insights and AI-Based Recommendations

The AI analyzes workouts, sleep, nutrition, and progress trends to give personalized advice. For example, it might recommend a recovery day after heavy exercise or adjust goals based on well-being.

Tech Stack For Creating Fitness Apps

A strong front-end, back-end, database, APIs, and cloud hosting lay the groundwork for long-term success. Below we’ve outlined tips on the best tech stack:

Front-end

Craft a captivating user experience with the right front-end tools. Whether you're building for mobile or web, these technologies will help you create intuitive and visually stunning interfaces.

• Swift: Unlock native iOS performance and seamless integration with Apple services.
• Kotlin: Leverage robust Android development with Google's support.
• Flutter: Build cross-platform apps with a single codebase for cost-effective development.
• React Native: Rapidly develop cross-platform apps with a shared codebase.

For web apps:

• React.js/Next.js: Deliver responsive and dynamic web experiences.
• Vue.js: Enjoy a lightweight alternative with a more straightforward learning curve.

Back-end

A robust back-end powers your app's core functions. From data storage to real-time interactions, these technologies ensure your app runs smoothly and efficiently.

• Node.js & Express.js: Perfect for real-time interactions like chat support and live sessions.
• Django: Supports AI-driven recommendations for personalized insights.
• Firebase: Cost-effective and ideal for startups, offering real-time data sync.
• AWS Lambda: Go serverless to reduce maintenance costs.

Database

Choose the right database to store and manage user data effectively. Whether you need structured data or flexibility, these options have covered you.

• PostgreSQL: Ideal for structured data like exercise logs and progress reports.
• MongoDB: Flexible for apps with user-generated content.
• Google Firestore: Real-time syncing for social and community features.
• TimescaleDB: Optimized for analyzing long-term fitness trends.

APIs and Integrations

Integrate third-party services seamlessly with APIs. Enhance your app's functionality without extensive development.

• HealthKit & Google Fit: Track fitness metrics like workouts and heart rate.
• Strava API: Monitor running, cycling, and community challenges.
• TensorFlow/OpenAI API: Unlock AI-driven insights for personalized workouts.
• Google Speech-to-Text API: Enable voice logging for workouts and reminders.

Payment Gateways

Secure transactions are crucial for subscriptions and in-app purchases. These gateways protect financial information and ensure smooth processing.

• Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay: Secure and reliable payment options.

Push Notifications

Keep users engaged with timely reminders, updates, and challenges. Push notifications boost interaction and retention.

• Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Send real-time notifications.
• OneSignal: Personalize notifications based on user activity.

Cloud and Hosting

Ensure your app scales efficiently with the right cloud hosting. From secure infrastructure to cost-effective solutions, these options support growing applications.

• AWS: Secure and scalable cloud hosting.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Integrates analytics and AI capabilities.
• Firebase Hosting: Fast deployment for small apps.
• DigitalOcean: Cost-effective for early-stage apps.

Fitness Tracker App Development Process

Behind every great fitness tracking app is a rock-solid plan—here’s how to craft one that dominates the market.

Market Research and Target Audience Analysis

This initial phase will lay the groundwork for understanding how to develop a fitness app effectively. Explore the fitness tech industry, research competitors, and identify user habits to shape a product that resonates. Whether targeting everyday gym-goers or elite athletes, ensure the app meets real needs yet is unique.

Pro Tips: Use Google Trends and Statista for keyword insights, survey 200+ users with a 60/40 quantitative-qualitative split, and analyze at least 5 top competitor apps (e.g., Fitbit, Strava) on app stores, focusing on user reviews with 3-star ratings to spot unmet needs.

Defining Core Functionalities

Once research findings are clear, define core features like step tracking, calorie counting, and wearable integration while adding unique elements—personalized workouts or gamified challenges—to solve real user problems without clutter.

Pro Tips: Keep core features between 5 and 7. Focus 70% of fitness application development on essentials like accurate step tracking, and test early with 20-30 beta users.

Choosing the Right Technology Stack

Tech stack can make or break your app. Go native with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) for top-tier performance, or use Flutter or React Native for a cross-platform edge. Power the backend with Firebase for simplicity or AWS for enterprise muscle. Ensure seamless integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, and future expansions.

Pro Tips: Optimize for 80% of wearable users via Apple & Fitbit APIs, slash dev time by 40% using Flutter, and benchmark response times under 200ms for real-time accuracy.

UI/UX Design for an Engaging User Experience

Turn concepts into a sleek, intuitive app with fluid navigation, bold visuals, and a dashboard that highlights key fitness metrics. Additionally, fine-tune details with real user feedback for a flawless experience.

Pro Tips: Use a 60-30-10 color rule for balance, ensure 48x48px tap targets for accessibility, and run usability tests with 5-8 users to catch issues.

Development and Testing Phase

Here, development takes center stage. Engineers implement features, integrate APIs, and fine-tune performance while testers identify and resolve issues rigorously. The goal is a stable, high-performing app that remains reliable under real-world stressors like network fluctuations and peak traffic.

‍Pro Tips: Ensure crash-free sessions with Crashlytics, test on 10+ devices covering 90% of users.

Launch and Post-Launch Support

It’s release time! Publish on the Apple App Store and Google Play, track feedback, and squash bugs fast. Upgrade features and fine-tune performance to keep users engaged.

Pro Tips: Optimize App Store metadata with 3-5 high-traffic keywords, try to respond to all reviews within 24 hours for the first month, and schedule updates every 6-8 weeks based on usage data to maximize engagement.

Average Cost of Fitness App Development

A fitness app’s price tag correlates with its technical ambition. Entry-level builds (3–6 months) focus on MVP essentials—profile setup, exercise demos, goal tracking, and email/SMS alerts—costing $38K–50K. Mid-range projects (6–9 months) embed dynamic plans, device interoperability, leaderboards, and microtransactions, averaging $50K–75K. 

High-complexity apps (9+ months) deploy AI posture correction, telehealth integrations, and enterprise dashboards, starting at $75K and rising. Freelancers may undercut agencies but risk fragmented deliverables. Invest in a vetted team with full-cycle development experience for scalable architecture and compliance.

How to Monetize a Fitness App

Revenue growth in fitness tracking app development is supported by:

• Paid Apps.‍

Charge users an upfront fee to download and access the app. Pricing depends on the app’s features, content, and platform.

• In-App Purchases.

Sell additional content such as workout plans, meal recipes, or motivational music to enhance the user experience.

• Premium Subscriptions (Freemium Model).

Offer a free version with basic features while reserving advanced fitness plans, personal coaching, and exclusive content for paying subscribers.

• Advertisements.

Display relevant ads without disrupting user experience. Fitness-related promotions work best to maintain engagement.

• Sponsored Content.

Partner with gyms, trainers, or fitness brands to distribute their content within the app in exchange for payment.

• eCommerce Integration.

Sell branded fitness gear, accessories, or custom fitness trackers through the app or an external store.

Most Popular Fitness Tracker Apps 2025

Explore the top fitness apps, their standout features, and key takeaways from their success. 

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is more than a calorie counter—it’s a complete nutrition and fitness tracking tool. AI-driven meal analysis scans food photos for accurate macros, while seamless wearable integration adjusts calorie goals based on recovery data.
Best For: Users who want precise food tracking and adaptive nutrition guidance.

Nike Training Club (NTC)

NTC delivers personalized workouts that adapt mid-session based on heart rate. "Smart Form Check" analyzes posture in real time, while AR integration brings guided workouts into any space.
Best For: Users seeking smart, adaptive training with real-time feedback.

Strava

Strava is the top choice for runners and cyclists, offering in-depth performance insights. New features track how terrain affects effort and monitor gear wear to prevent injuries.
Best For: Outdoor athletes looking for advanced performance tracking.

Fitbod

Fitbod creates strength-training plans based on fatigue and progress. It predicts recovery needs, suggests optimal weight increases, and highlights neglected muscle groups with 3D mapping.
Best For: Strength trainers wanting a data-driven, adaptive workout plan.

Headspace

Headspace connects mindfulness with fitness. It tracks stress, recommends pre-workout meditation, and logs post-exercise reflections to improve focus and recovery.
Best For: Athletes prioritizing mental resilience and recovery.

Challenges in Fitness Tracker App Development

Fitness tracker apps have revolutionized health monitoring, but their development is fraught with challenges. Four key hurdles stand out:

Ensuring Accuracy of Health Data

Accuracy of the health data is the backbone of any fitness tracking app. Users depend on metrics like step counts, heart rate, and calorie burn to make informed health decisions. Inaccurate data can mislead users, erode trust, or even pose health risks. Poor sensor quality, flawed algorithms, and inconsistent user input contribute to this challenge.

Solutions:

• High-Quality Sensors and Algorithms: Developers should use reliable sensors and collaborate with health experts to design precise algorithms. These algorithms must be validated against benchmarks to ensure metrics align with real-world outcomes.
• User Input Optimization: Create intuitive interfaces that encourage users to input accurate details (e.g., age, weight) and include calibration features to account for variables like terrain or weather.
• Continuous Refinement: Regularly update algorithms based on user feedback and emerging research to maintain accuracy over time.

User Privacy and Data Security Compliance

Health data is highly sensitive, and users expect it to be protected. Developers must comply with strict regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) while safeguarding against cybersecurity threats. A breach can damage user trust and result in legal consequences.

Solutions:

• Robust Encryption: Implement strong encryption for data both in transit (e.g., during syncing) and at rest (e.g., in storage) to prevent unauthorized access.
• Regulatory Compliance: Secure explicit user consent for data collection and anonymize data used for research or analytics to meet legal standards.
• Proactive Security: Use two-factor authentication and conduct regular security audits to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Device Compatibility and Integration Issues

Fitness tracking apps must function seamlessly across various devices, operating systems (e.g., iOS, Android), and third-party platforms (e.g., Apple Health, Google Fit). Variability in hardware, differing OS APIs, and high battery consumption complicate this process, potentially leading to inconsistent user experiences.

Solutions:

• Cross-Platform Development: Use modular designs and frameworks (e.g., Flutter, React Native) to adapt to hardware differences and ensure compatibility across operating systems.
• Third-Party Integration: Follow platform-specific protocols to integrate smoothly with external services, enabling data syncing without disrupting functionality.
• Battery Optimization: Minimize resource usage by optimizing code and reducing background processes to prevent excessive battery drain.

Keeping Users Engaged Long-Term

Since the market has its established leaders, it is tough to compete, surprise, and engage users. Many abandon apps due to a lack of motivation or repetitive experiences. Developers must find ways to unify their product to stay relevant over time.

Solutions:

• Personalization: Tailor fitness plans and recommendations to individual user goals (e.g., weight loss, endurance) and preferences, enhancing relevance.
• Gamification: Introduce rewards, challenges, or badges to make fitness fun and encourage consistent use.
• Community and Feedback: Build social features (e.g., leaderboards, group challenges) and provide actionable progress reports to foster a sense of connection and achievement.

Future Trends in Fitness Tracker Apps

The fitness app race is heating up. According to a fitness app market analysis by Grand View Research, top startups are betting on mHealth (hydration, women’s health, safety) and techs like AI, VR, and wearables. Miss these trends, and you lose. Read on for a detailed overview of trends:

Mental Health & Wellness

Mental wellness is now a core focus in developing a fitness app. Sensor Tower’s 2024 data shows rising demand for stress relief and mindfulness tools. Apps include meditation, breathwork, and sleep options. At the same time, Headspace and other platforms are adding fitness routines, which results in a well-rounded approach to health.

Women in Focus

With women making up almost 60% of users, fitness apps are stepping up. Sweat features top female trainers. HARNA customizes workouts based on menstrual cycles, providing a unique fitness approach.

Smart Personalization with AI & ML

AI-driven apps now customize workouts, predict the best recovery plans, and enhance motivation. Thus, Freeletics tailors schedules, MyFitnessPal adds competition, and Future delivers real-time coaching for next-level training.

‍VR and AR Revolution

VR and AR revolutionize fitness by making workouts an immersive and engaging experience. Instead of staring at a screen, users can cycle through 3D landscapes (Zwift) or boxes in an interactive arena (Liteboxer VR).

Seamless Wearable Integration 

Fitness apps and wearables combine and extend their functionality beyond mere exercise trackers. With Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Whoop leading the charge, biometric data, such as sleep quality, heart rate, recovery, and exertion levels, helps them meet their fitness goals.

Gamification for Engagement

Gamification keeps users motivated with points, challenges, and rewards. Strava fuels competition with leaderboards, while Nike Run Club celebrates milestones with achievement badges, making every workout a victory.

Eco-Conscious

Gen Z demands sustainability, and fitness apps are stepping up. Low-carbon workouts, green brand partnerships, and impact tracking are redefining fitness. Plogga turns runs into clean-up missions, while Ecosia Active plants trees with every workout.

Build a Fitness Tracker App with Darly Solutions

Fitness platforms are close to one of our core specializations—healthcare and wearable app development. We follow a structured process to ensure a high-quality, user-centric product that meets your business goals.

1. Initial Consultation and Requirement Analysis.
Contact Darly Solutions to discuss your app vision. Their team will assess your objectives, target audience, and desired features to align the final product with market demands.

2. Concept Design and UI/UX Development.
Darly Solutions designs intuitive, engaging interfaces that enhance user experience. Their FitSync concept demonstrates expertise in crafting user-friendly fitness applications with personalized fitness plans.

3. Custom Software Development.
As a custom software development company, Darly Solutions builds scalable fitness tracker apps using the latest technologies to ensure smooth device performance.

4. Feature Integration.
Key functionalities include activity tracking, goal setting, data visualization, and wearable device integration. These features enhance user engagement and provide valuable fitness insights.

5. Quality Assurance and Testing.
Rigorous testing ensures a reliable, bug-free application that delivers optimal performance.

6. Deployment and Ongoing Support.
After launch, Darly Solutions provides continuous updates, security enhancements, and technical support to keep the app competitive.

7. Cost Considerations.
Development costs depend on complexity, features, and timeframe. Darly Solutions offers insights into budgeting to help you make informed investment decisions.

Partnering with Darly Solutions ensures a standout fitness tracker app that drives user engagement and success in the health and wellness market. Do you want to create your own fitness app, yet don’t know where to start? Darly Solutions will assist you with the right expertise and tech stack!

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The right tools in software development can make or break your setup fundamentals, especially when it comes to open-source control systems. If we take GitHub, it thrives as a collaborative hub for open-source innovation and hosts giants like TensorFlow and React. About 58% of GitHub users adopt third-party Actions. 

Meanwhile, GitLab attracts teams that value privacy and automation. About 73% of its users use the built-in CI/CD pipelines. 

But what is the difference between GitHub and GitLab on a deeper level, and why does this choice matter in 2025?

• Community: By late 2024, GitHub hit 4.5 billion contributions globally. For context, that’s 12,328 commits per minute.
• Trust: Over 90% of Fortune 100 companies use GitHub for key code. They appreciate its ecosystem for scalability and easy third-party integrations.
• Network: GitHub has over 1 million active monthly contributors from North America, Brazil, India, and China. This setup makes cross-border teamwork easy, which is great for distributed teams.
• Compliance: GitLab reduces audit prep time by 40% for regulated industries like healthcare.

This article breaks down the key features, security protocols, and real-world performance. It helps you choose the right platform for your 2025 strategy. Focus on what matches your goals, not just the latest trends.

Git vs GitLab vs GitHub: The Basics

Both platforms are made to streamline software development. They provide various tools for version control, continuous integration, and teamwork. Let's start with a closer look at each platform.

What is Git?

Git is a free and open-source distributed version control system used by teams worldwide. It works equally well for minor fixes and large projects. Unlike older systems, 

Git gives every developer a complete project copy, making teamwork faster and more flexible. Git runs smoothly even on basic computers, outperforming tools like Subversion and Perforce with features like cheap local branching, convenient staging areas, and multiple workflows.

Key Features of Git

• Distributed Development: Each developer has their full local copy of the repository and all its history. This allows offline work and eliminates reliance on a central server.
• Snapshots Over Diffs: Git keeps data as snapshots of the entire project. This method helps with efficient storage and quick retrieval.
• Branching and Merging: Git lets developers create lightweight branches. This way, they can experiment on their own. Later, they can merge changes easily into the main codebase.
• Performance: Git is optimized for speed, which makes operations like committing, branching, merging, and comparing versions highly efficient.
• Collaboration: Its distributed nature allows multiple developers to work simultaneously without conflicts. Changes can be reviewed, tracked, and merged quickly.
• Data Integrity: SHA-1 hashing checks every file change. This ensures the data stays intact and avoids corruption.

What Is GitLab?

GitLab is an open-source DevOps platform. Built on Git (the same system GitHub uses), it’s designed to help teams manage every step of creating apps or programs—from brainstorming ideas to launching updates. It offers project planning, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), security testing, and monitoring.

From conception to implementation, GitLab leads the way and helps teams reduce the development cycle from weeks to minutes. As a result, teams cut costs, accelerate time-to-market, and create more secure and standards-compliant software.

Who Created GitLab?

Frustrated by too complex or unreliable tools, GitLab co-founder Dmytro Zaporizhets decided to build something that just worked. In 2011, right from his home in Ukraine, Dmytro teamed up with Valeriy Sizov to create GitLab. Their first code commit on October 8, 2011, marked the start of a platform that would grow into a global DevOps powerhouse.

What began as a personal project to simplify collaboration has since transformed how teams worldwide build, test, and deploy software.

Many wondered—is GitLab owned by Microsoft? No, GitLab is not owned by Microsoft. The owners of GitLab Inc. include institutional investors, internal shareholders of the company, and a broad range of private investors. Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018, one of the most popular code-hosting platforms. However, they remain independent companies despite GitLab and GitHub operating in a similar field. GitLab continues to operate separately, offering its own set of tools and services for DevOps.

Features of GitLab

• Planning. Powerful tools help unite all process participants. They set up work using epics, groups, stages, and roadmaps. You can also see progress in real-time.
• Maintenance. Built-in issue tracking and support system for continuous feedback within DevSecOps processes.
• Design Management. Centralized storage for project materials helps teams work together. It allows them to improve the product quickly during development.
• Requirements Control. Established requirements management system.
• Product Quality. Track testing, analyze results, and adjust processes directly on a single platform.
• Wiki. Each GitLab project comes with its own wiki. This allows users to easily create, store, and manage documentation alongside their code.
• Text Editors. GitLab offers two types of editors: Plain Text Editor (PTE) and Rich Text Editor (RTE). Both are key to the Knowledge Group's plan to turn GitLab into a full AllOps platform.
• Value Stream Management. The system tracks key metrics throughout all stages of development. It analyzes how efficient the process is and finds bottlenecks. Comparing best practices among teams helps improve workflows. This leads to faster, more valuable solutions for users.
• DORA Metrics. Tracking and visualizing DORA metrics helps teams make smart, data-driven choices. This boosts efficiency in their DevOps processes.
• DevOps Reports. GitLab’s flexibility makes it suitable for both small teams and large enterprises, providing simple and effective management from Waterfall to DevSecOps.

Pros and Cons of GitLab

GitLab vs GitHub remains among the best solutions for DevOps due to their extensive automation capabilities and user-friendly tools for efficient team collaboration.

What Is GitHub?

GitHub is a platform for code storage, collaboration, and version control. It allows you and other developers to collaborate on projects, coordinate changes, and improve the code. The GitHub website and app have version control, source code management, and change-tracking features.

The fundamentals of the platform are the Git system. GitHub serves as a space for developer to interact and share their projects. It remains the most popular version control system (VCS) in programming due to its user-friendly interface, open structure, and ease of use.

Who Created GitHub?

The idea of GitHub originated in 2005 thanks to Finnish-American software engineer Linus Torvalds. Looking for an efficient way to manage Linux code, he created Git, which took just over a week. Git became a distributed version control system with open-source code.

Unlike previous solutions that stored code in a single repository, Git allows each user, regardless of location, to view the source code, history of changes, bug fixes, and integration plans. GitHub developed this idea by creating a single open platform for developers to collaborate to view different projects and improve their code.

The gap between the creation of Git in 2005 and the launch of GitHub in April 2008 became a period when new users gradually learned the system. Their work was coordinated by the lead maintainer, Japanese programmer Junio Hamano. Torvalds acknowledges that Hamano made the most significant contribution to Git's improvements.

Features of GitHub

• Community: GitHub is known for its active developer community and many open-source projects.
• GitHub Copilot: GitHub offers an AI-powered code completion tool called GitHub Copilot that provides code suggestions directly in the editor, significantly increasing developer productivity.
• Packages: GitHub integrates package management into the platform, allowing users to host and manage software packages and use them as dependencies in other projects, all within GitHub.‍
• Security and code scanning: GitHub provides security tools like Dependabot for automated dependency update code and secret scanning.‍
• Integration with third-party tools: GitHub offers many integrations with popular development tools such as Slack, Trello, etc.
• Community: GitHub is known for its active developer community and many open-source projects.
• GitHub Copilot: GitHub offers an AI tool known as GitHub Copilot. It gives code suggestions right in the editor, which helps developers work faster and more efficiently.
• Packages: GitHub lets users manage packages right on the platform. You can host your software packages and keep them organized. Plus, you can use these packages as dependencies in other projects, all in GitHub.
• Security and code scanning: GitHub has tools like Dependabot. It automates updating dependencies and scans for secrets.
• Integration: GitHub easily connects with third-party tools like Slack and Trello.

Pros and Cons of GitHub

Let's consider the key differences between GitHub vs GitLab.

Git vs GitLab vs GitHub: Similarities

Both platforms from our GitLab vs GitHub comparison have a lot in common, making them popular choices for developers:

Thus, we conclude they have many similarities when comparing GitLab vs. GitHub.

Key Difference Between Git, GitHub, and GitLab

Are GitHub and GitLab the same? Despite the similarities, there is a critical difference between Git, GitLab vs GitHub:

Thus, consider these differences between Git vs GitHub vs GitLab when working on your project.

Git, GitHub, and GitLab Cost in 2025

Let's look at Git vs GitHub vs GitLab in 2025.

• Git—free, open source.
• GitHub is offered with plans starting from $4 per user per month.
• GitLab vs GitHub is the more expensive platform, with plans starting at $21 per user per month.

This price difference between GitHub and GitLab reflects GitLab's focus on integrated DevOps features and enterprise-grade solutions. That is why it is higher. However, it's important to note that GitLab offers a transition price of $24 per user per month for existing Premium customers renewing within the first year after the price increase.

Git vs GitLab vs GitHub: Which Is the Best Option?

In short, the choice between GitLab vs. GitHub depends on your project's specific needs. However, diving deeper, we will see that GitHub is widely favored for open-source projects, individual developers, and small to medium-sized teams. This is because of its large community, ease of use, and extensive third-party integrations. These features make it ideal for quick collaboration and straightforward workflows, particularly for those who put accessibility and a vibrant ecosystem first.

On the other hand, GitLab caters to large enterprises and teams that look for a robust, all-in-one DevOps platform. Its built-in CI/CD pipelines, self-hosting flexibility, and advanced project management tools streamline complex workflows. Plus, many organizations with intricate development and deployment needs hugely benefit from GitLab. 

Meanwhile, hosting options differ: GitHub operates exclusively in the cloud, while GitLab offers both cloud-based and self-hosted solutions, granting greater control over infrastructure.

GitHub’s strength lies in its vast array of third-party plugins and integrations, which simplify extending functionality. Meanwhile, GitLab emphasizes deep, native integration with DevOps tools, reducing reliance on external services. For open-source collaboration or rapid project initiation, GitHub remains the top choice. On the other hand, GitLab excels in managing advanced CI/CD processes and meeting enterprise-scale demands, positioning it as the go-to for teams needing end-to-end DevOps automation and customization.

After all, selecting a platform hinges on your project’s unique needs—not just features. Evaluate team size, integration requirements, and CI/CD workflows to choose the best fit.

GitLab and GitHub Alternatives

In fact, GitLab and GitHub are not the ones that thrive in the effective management of repositories. Some of the alternatives of GitLab and GitHub are:

• Bitbucket: Offers integration with Jira, making it convenient for teams that use this tool for project management. In addition, Bitbucket supports Mercurial, which can be helpful for teams using this version control system.‍
• SourceForge: This site is famous for open-source projects and has an extensive software archive. It allows users to host projects and provides tools for version management and code collaboration, which makes it attractive for open-source developers.‍
• Azure DevOps: This is a comprehensive platform for DevOps from Microsoft that provides a complete set of tools to manage application development, testing, and deployment. Azure DevOps integrates with other Azure services, making it an excellent choice for organizations already using Azure infrastructure.

Conclusion

Undeniably, both GitLab and GitHub stand as powerful tools for managing repositories that have transformed how software is developed and shared. 

GitLab excels with its DevOps toolkit and granular control, while GitHub offers a streamlined developer experience and unmatched open-source reach. In addition to these two popular options, it is worth mentioning other platforms such as Bitbucket, SourceForge, and Azure DevOps, each with its characteristics and advantages. 

To find out which will fit your needs perfectly, evaluate the specifics of your project, integration requirements, and number of participants. With the right choice of platform, you can boost the team's efficiency, ensure the final product's quality, and contribute to the success of your project as a whole.

In recent years, mental health has taken center stage globally. Currently, approximately 792M people globally have mental issues and lack access to traditional therapy due to financial constraints or societal stigma. The best way to solve the issue — is to go digital. That is where mental health app development comes into play. It cuts costs and makes mental health available to everybody around the globe. 

As to the market, in 2024 alone, the app market saw expansion to approximately $7.38B. In a decade, forecasts promise growth up to nearly 10% annually, scorching $17.52B. 

If you are ready to build a new solution — now is the perfect time to start. Below, we will explain how to develop a mental health app, share standout mental health app ideas, and highlight key factors to keep in mind.

Why mental health apps are in demand

Even though people have faced mental disorders throughout the entire history, only in recent years solving these problems become normal and generally accepted. And it won’t stop. Let’s numbers speak louder — according to 2019 alone, the global capitalization for the global antidepressant market was estimated at $11.67B. By 2027, the market promises to grow to a record $18.29B. 

Of course, depression is not the only issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a growing tendency for PTSD, anxiety, and OCD (due to economic instability, military conflicts, pandemics, as well as personal problems). 

Additionally, the fast-paced world daily brings panic attacks, triggers, and burnout (prevalent among doctors, teachers, and IT workers). Youngsters are prone to issues, too; among the most “popular” — are low self-esteem and social isolation.

Financial constraints and a lack of free time put hefty pressure on those who need a traditional approach to addressing mental problems. Then, an in-person visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist becomes a real luxury. But what if there is a more efficient, accessible alternative? That’s where developing your mental health app comes in.

Business and monetization models of mental health applications

For mental health app development, the following monetization models have proven to be the most profitable:

• Fee for the services of real psychologists.
  According to this model, the application acts as a platform, connecting users with professional psychologists, coaches, or therapists (similar to a marketplace with reviews, ratings, cost of services, and other attributes). In this case, the application earns the commission from each transaction (usually 15-30%).
• Subscription-based model.
  This model has a fixed fee for regular access to content and/or services for a certain period (month, year, etc.). If your app has diverse content and functions, offer multiple pricing models. This lets users pick a plan that suits their needs best.
• Freemium.
  These models give free access to basic functionality, with particular features to be paid. Usually, there are personalized recommendations, access to exclusive courses, advanced progress analytics, etc.
• One-time purchase.
  This model involves a one-time purchase of the application, after which the user has access to all its functionality.
• In-app purchases.
  Here, the basic functionality is available for free, but additional materials or services are paid (personalized plans, unique selections of tracks for meditation, etc.).
• Ad-supported model.
  In this case, app is free but includes built-in advertising (banners, videos, native advertising, etc.). At the same time, to improve the user experience, you can offer an option to turn off ads for an extra fee.
• B2B model.
  This model translates into you selling licenses to companies with internal programs to support employee mental health.
• Selling merch.
  This model focused on branded wellness merchandise promotion via scented candles, self-improvement guides, and mindfulness notebooks.

Top mental health apps on the market

Now, let's explore the most popular mental health apps. Perhaps they'll give you extra inspiration for your mental health app development project.

Headspace

Endorsed by the editors of the New York Times and 2.8 million users globally, Headspace is a product of the mental health company of the same name. Its core functionality includes meditations dedicated to improving sleep quality, relaxation, and cultivating mindfulness. They also offer courses on meditation, managing borderline emotional states, and more. Moreover, the platform has scientifically proven results in stress reduction and a user-friendly interface.

Calm

The Calm app is loved for high-quality content and a simple and intuitive interface. by 4.5 million (2023). And it is rightfully so. This app spins everything, from meditation sessions and effective breathing exercises to audio programs that are good for falling asleep faster. As for monetization, there is a free version with limited access.  Full access to functionals is only available with a paid subscription.

BetterHelp

BetterHelp has over 2 million users and connects with licensed therapists via text, phone, and video. Patients must pay a fee to continue their subscription and can also volunteer to donate to others. This app goes far beyond mood issues. It covers complex disorders and symptoms, such as clinical depression and PTSD.

Talkspace

Talkspace provides online therapy with licensed therapists through a tiered subscription model (with health insurance coverage). Moreover, this app is ideal for managing medication treatment and has many formats for direct communication with psychotherapists (including cases of emergencies).

Moodfit

Founded in 2018, Moodfit has become the top mood assistant for more than a million people worldwide. It has personalization options, customized mood data analysis through visualization tools, and mood-improving recommendations. In addition, the app has cognitive-behavioral therapy exercises as a handy and entertaining way to deal with mental issues. 

Woebot

Woebot is a free AI-driven bot founded by Dr. Alison in 2017.  It is based on text format and has cognitive behavioral therapy methods. Initially, this software was intended for youngsters in college and graduate school, but today, people of all ages use it.

Sanvello

Sanvello, created by Dale Beermann and Chris Goettel, provides evidence-based CBT techniques and tools to support mental well-being. Since 2015, the app has offered free features and premium content through subscription or insurance.

Key components of a mental health app

Let's determine what mental health app features should be included by default.

Registration/authentication/authorization system 

The main functionality of this system includes two types of registration: full-fledged, with the user’s email, and fast, through social networks (this is implemented through the OAuth 2.0 protocol, which is suitable for integration with Google, Apple, and Facebook). 

For better protection of user data, use two-factor authentication and store hashed passwords. This can be done, for example, using bcrypt. Additionally, allow password recovery via email or SMS and register log-in/logout events for a data security audit.

User profile

Include the functionality for adding, saving, and changing personal information (name, age, mental health goals), maintaining the user’s activity history (exercise completed, courses, sessions with psychologists, etc.), and privacy settings (public/anonymous profile). Typically, profile data is stored in a relational database (PostgreSQL/MySQL); it is also necessary to set a clear separation between public and private user data.

Home screen and navigation

The home screen should feature a clickable menu, allowing users to update content based on their settings. You can also add push notifications (for example, using Firebase Cloud Messaging). As for the menu, place meditations, psychological tests, stretching, and yoga exercises in text, video, and/or audio format. You can also include real-time communication with specialists via text, voice, and video chats.

Use cloud platforms such as AWS S3 to ensure scalable content storage. If your application is media-rich — add media streaming via HLS. 

Finally, localize content for users from different regions if you plan to maximize your target audience. 

In-app payment system

If you plan to monetize your app through subscription payments or in-app purchases, integrate App Store and Google Play to process payments via the In-App Purchase API. You can deploy the web version via Stripe. Once everything is ready, provide access control based on the paid features.

Analytics and recommendations

Place functionality for tracking user progress and boosting their motivation (e.g., mood changes) and recommendations based on analytics. The latter makes sense to implement using machine learning models (e.g., based on TensorFlow).

What to consider before creating a mental health app?

The basic functionality of a mental health app goes far beyond making it popular and profitable. Therefore, to maximize your chances of success, consider the following factors before creating a mental health app.

Competitive environment

Usually, it involves the user interface, content accessibility, and the quality of the exercises/recommendations. Notably, the Calm application (sleep stories) and BetterHelp (online chat with therapists) are prime examples of such. 

Analysis of bad ratings — matters too. In particular, users usually complain about the high subscription costs, lack of personalization, navigation problems, and negative experiences with customer support service. You can use it to make a competitive feature. 

Target audience

Your target audience — above all. This can be young people (18-35 years old) who need an effective solution for stress management and improving sleep quality. Or the elderly might be searching for a more convenient professional in-home/palliative care format. Finally, it could be corporate clients who want to implement programs for the mental support of their employees. 

Ultimately, user needs may vary. Based on the insights, determine the preferred content format (e.g., meditation, CBT, DBT, video sessions) and presentation style.

Regulatory requirements and user data privacy

The most common and comprehensive regulations are GDPR and HIPAA regulations, which govern the processing of personal data and medical information. To comply with them under the mental health app development process, you must implement data encryption (via SSL/TLS) and ensure transparent privacy policies.

Marketing strategy

To attract a broad user base, create a unique selling proposition. This can be achieved through AI diagnostics, integration with wearable devices via IoT, or simply offering a lower price than competitors. Next, point out the comprehensive marketing strategy. Select the right promotion channels: social media, partnerships with therapists, or advertising through user reviews. is essential for developing a comprehensive marketing strategy. Additionally, to retain users — regularly update content. 

Testing and feedback

It’s better to subject an app with a diverse target audience to beta testing. To do so, find the first users who could be your potential consumers, gather feedback, and optimize the app based on their input.

Financial costs and ROI

Finally, estimate the project budget. It should include development, marketing, updates, customer support, and infrastructure maintenance. Given the costs, you must also estimate how long it will take till your project is profitable. It might be useful for future investors.

What are the main phases of mental health app development?

Now that you have so many insights at hand, you can start the mental health app development process. Let's find out how this happens in practice.

Ideation 

First, define the problem. It is the mental health issues that trouble your audience and their goals. Obviously, your app should cover it. The solution might vary. It could reduce stress, help with sleep, or heal depression. Moreover, in the very first stage — conduct a competitive analysis. This will help identify niche leaders, find the target audience, and formulate a USP.

Planning 

At this stage of the mental health app development process, you will already have enough information to determine the main functionality of your teletherapy application. Select a technology stack (or at least decide whether it will be a native or cross-platform solution), and clarify the business model. Based on this, you can calculate an approximate project budget.

Design 

From now on, your mental health app developers can start creating prototypes and gradually turn them into a full-fledged design. Note that to develop mental health apps, you must use WCAG 2.0 guidelines, which ensure all users can access the app's functionality. Once the mental health app design is complete, test usability with real users to refine the navigation.

Development 

The mental health app development process is divided into frontend and backend. The first includes the implementation of the user part of the software, and the second – everything that happens on the server side. As individual modules are ready, your mental health app developers will need to perform unit and integration testing to prevent difficult-to-fix bugs in the future.

Testing 

Once the entire codebase is ready, QA specialists and testers will create test cases to ensure each function works correctly and the app performs well under high user load. This testing also ensures that all user actions within the app are secure and protect their privacy.

Release

Now that testing is complete, and all detected bugs are fixed, you can publish the application in the App Store and/or Google Play (your development team will first need to check whether it meets all platform requirements). After publishing, you can launch an advertising campaign to attract the first users, as well as set up tracking tools like Google Analytics and Amplitude to analyze user behavior.

Post-release support

At this mental health app development stage, you must check your application's speed and stability regularly. You will also need to update/expand its functionality once in a while and optimize what already exists based on feedback from real users. An equally important point is ensuring compatibility with newer versions of iOS/Android.

Challenges in mental health app development

Various challenges can arise during the mental health app development process. Let’s analyze them:

• Compliance with regulations.
  Mental health apps often handle and maintain personal information, including medical data, which imposes obligations on you as a developer to implement GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA compliance.
• Balance between personalization and privacy. 

While personalization — is a key feature of these apps, it sometimes conflicts with privacy requirements. To address this, implement advanced mechanisms for anonymizing user data, which will reduce the need to send sensitive information to the server.

• Evidence base.
  The content provided by your app must be scientifically sound and effective for users. To do this, you should either accompany all your treatment plans with individual recommendations from real therapists or initially use approaches with proven effectiveness.
• User retention.
  Many users abandon apps after a few days of use, so your app may need additional retention mechanics (such as gamification and adaptive push notifications) that won’t make users feel guilty or overwhelmed.
• Monetization efficiency.
  Most users search for free or cheap health-related apps. At this point, you need to figure out the balance between user accessibility and the financial sustainability of your software.

How much do developers charge to build a mental health application?

The budget for developing a mental health app development depends on its complexity. So, we can't give exact numbers without first discussing your idea with your development team. But the approximate price ranges from:

• $140K for a teletherapy app.  
• $70K for a simple mood-tracking app with self-monitoring features.

Back-end features, like a database and admin panel, are often overlooked in cost estimates. Developers typically include these in the overall pricing for mental health applications.

If you want to get an estimate of your project, please contact us. 

Mental health app design: Best practices

Now, let's analyze several mental health apps (some of which have already been presented to you above) whose design has pleasantly surprised us. Maybe they will help you think better through your mental health app development process. 

Headspace

This app is praised for its simple and minimalistic interface, with bright illustrations and smooth animations that literally "nudge" users to meditate with its help. It is also adapted for beginners and is generally perceived as intuitive. This approach to design minimizes anxiety in users and motivates them to meditate regularly.

Calm

The aesthetics of the Calm app lie primarily in the author's images of nature, a soft color scheme, and smooth animations. Together, they create an atmosphere of relaxation  - that’s what you need to reduce stress. The app also stands out from its competitors with its "sleep stories" that help people with high anxiety fall asleep faster. 

Reflectly

Reflectly's unique design uses artificial intelligence to offer a personalized experience. A clear, user-friendly interface, dynamic prompts, and mood analytics complement this. Together, these features make the app an ideal choice for audiences of all ages.

Daylio

Daylio's intuitive interface is accompanied by simple icons for tracking the user’s mood and activity. Moreover, all these application elements are easy. Developers ensured that performing target actions doesn’t take too long. The application also has a built-in report generator with visualization elements so that users can monitor their progress.

Happify

The Happify app has a gamified interface. It simplifies and informalises the process of improving the psycho-emotional state. The gamification principles here are based on scientific methods to improve mood. So, it does not add to users' cognitive load.

Mental health app ideas to succeed in 2025

In this section, let’s look through the most viral mental health app development ideas so you can pinpoint your project to success:

• Integration of AI.
  AI assistants can help analyze moods and behavior patterns, give personalized recommendations on how to improve well-being, and remind them of any regular upcoming activities, like a daily mood rate system.
• Social interaction.
  This can be implemented via in-app groups of users with similar mental problems where they could share their healing experiences and receive mutual support.
• Integration with wearable devices.
  Through the IoT, you can analyze heart rate, assess stress levels, determine sleep quality, and create a common mental health map.
• AR and VR tools integration.
  It might be useful for relaxation (to enhance the immersion effect).
• "Instant help".
  Through the screen for quick access to ready-made materials and an online chat with a psychotherapist.
• Content specially adapted for children and adolescents.
  For example, these could be games for managing emotions or recommendations for teenagers on dealing with anxiety and stress;
• B2B solutions for companies.
  in particular, these could be psychotherapeutic assistance to prevent burnout.

Highlights of our experience in delivering healthcare solutions

Finally, we'd like to share our experience developing a mental health app. A client approached us to expand their services to the web, specifically to support small businesses recovering from the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The objective was to create a platform to attract a target audience seeking health-related products and services.

For this project, we assembled a team of ten specialists. We chose Ionic and Vue.js for the frontend tech stack, with Laravel for the backend. The result was an online platform featuring a simplified login process, the ability to schedule and reschedule meetings between clients and trainers, an intuitive search for events and classes, role-based access, and an integrated payment system for online payments (covering group and individual courses, as well as event participation). We also implemented live session connections via Google Meet and Zoom. The solution was complemented by a clean, minimalist design with a calming color scheme, ensuring a pleasant and user-friendly experience.

If you want to learn more about this project, please follow this link.

Final thoughts

With this comprehensive guide, you can confidently start looking for specialists who would bring your idea to life. Don’t go any further, as you are already in the right place! Just fill out this form, and our mental health app development team will contact you as soon as possible!