Product: Daylio
Producer: Habitics
Compatibility: iOS/Android
Cost: Free (with the option of in-app purchases)
Product summary:
Daylio is a micro diary that tracks users’ mood, activities, habits and goals “without writing a line”. The app’s main feature is the mood log where users can rate their mood on a 5 point scale (from “rad” [superb] to “awful”) at any given time and record the activity they were doing at the time of the log. Users can select an activity from the activity menu or add one. When a sufficient amount of data has been entered, the information is presented in various graphs (i.e. average daily mood, monthly mood chart). It is particularly useful for families and educators as part of a prevention strategy as you can track what activities or events lead to a worsening mood. Additional features include reminders and changing languages.
The navigation of Daylio is simple. Several features are found on multiple pages (i.e. users can add new moods or activities during check in or a separate page). The primary features are clearly labeled for ease of navigation; however, many of the secondary features that lead to eye opening statistics and graphics may be harder to find and comprehend as there are no prompts to explain the statistics or how to use them, which may delay user learning.
To log an entry the user picks their mood from the self-explanatory emojis and then chooses one or more activities that have been entered prior to use. The user can pick from a library of icons to identify with. The app is highly personalizable – a user is able to tailor the language, emotions and activities to be as specific or broad as they want. The app relies heavily on a simple design of boxes or circles, each clickable item is bordered in a circle making the interface very organized for the user to check in.
Daylio is intended for long term use to provide insight into the user’s mood patterns, activities and habits. The app facilitates this by unlocking achievements and providing words of encouragement such as “going strong” after some entries.
Over time the app builds up a picture of how the user tends to feel and what they frequently do. For example, if the user wants to see what activities are associated with feeling “bad” this can be done quickly after few weeks of data has been collected. Users can also look at specific relationships (i.e. the relationship between a certain activity/mood and time of the day). It is flexible for users who may otherwise struggle to keep a mood tracking system.
Daylio includes a goal tracking feature – if the user would like to clean every day, the user can add ‘clean’ as an activity and look back to see how often it was accomplished. Statistics such as completion rates and streak days are provided. The app also sends daily reminders regarding this. The app allows for a short note to be added for reference but is not designed for writing long extended notes or journaling.
Overall, Daylio is a beneficial, brief and a simple tool for users to learn more about themselves or others mood patterns. Its reliance on visual features makes it an attractive app to use.
Ratings:
Ease of Use: Grab and Go ★★★★★
Adaptability: Some Personalization Available ★★★★☆
Accessibility: Suitable For Almost All Users ★★★☆☆
Cost vs. Value: Free ★★★★★
