Do employee wellness apps really work?

Wellness apps have become an increasing part of people's lives with 64% of consumers saying they are now a part of their daily routine, according to a report by McKinsey. 

The number of app providers is increasing, a sure sign that demand is high. I've also personally observed an increased interest as more business clients ask us about wellness apps.

Yet, despite their growing popularity, their effectiveness is still under some scrutiny. Studies have reached contrasting conclusions, even though my own experience from speaking to clients — and using a wellness app myself — has mainly been a positive one.

Most employers invest in wellness apps in the hope they will help employees feel healthier, happier and more motivated. But is this goal achievable? First, it's important to understand the scope of services available in wellness apps.

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What's in a wellness app?

Wellness apps are designed to help people achieve a healthier state of body and mind. Services will typically include areas such as fitness tracking, meditation exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy, mental health resources, sleep tracking, health assessments and dietary prompts and advice. 

Many companies now offer wellness apps as part of their benefits packages, sometimes as a standalone service, but more frequently they are included with a company health insurance policy as an "added value" service.

The breadth of services included in a wellness app can vary greatly. Some focus purely on mental health and sleep while others have a more holistic offering.  

When selecting a wellness app, it's important that employers understand what's under the hood and what success looks like. Most apps come with usage stats and employee feedback reports, making it easy to gauge return on investment.

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Six benefits of wellness apps for businesses

Popularity
According to a 2024 survey by Engage Health Group, 12% of employees said well-being apps were their favorite health benefit. Half of respondents still considered health insurance their most important benefit. This makes sense considering the wide range of health services that can be included in a private medical insurance policy, including wellness apps.

Affordability
More businesses are adding well-being apps to their benefits packages because they're a cost-effective way to promote well-being. There are plenty of stories where wellness apps have helped to change people's lives, by getting them fitter and healthier, or where they have detected a health condition early via screening available through the app.   

If a company acquires a wellness app via a group health insurance policy, then those costs are often built into the provider's offering, but where the value the employee can receive is more than the cost to the employer.  

Privacy
People are often hesitant to reach out to another person for help. Many people feel more comfortable accessing a digital interface where information is kept private.  

Flexibility and accessibility
In today's increasingly agile working world, it's important to provide benefits that employees can access where and when they need them. 

Measurability 
A well-designed employee wellness app should make it easy to track usage and performance. This can give clear insights to HR about what support staff need most. Such insights can be used to inform your wider corporate wellness program. 

Responsibility
Most employers are looking to do the right thing by their staff. They actively want to help them feel happy, healthy and ready to take on life's challenges, and wellness apps can help with this. 

Wellness apps also help employers fulfil some of their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

While apps will never be a cure-all, employees do value them. At little cost, they can help aid an employee's sense of well-being and job satisfaction. 

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What makes an effective wellness app?

The apps that include some sort of gamification and reward can be very effective. For instance, Myles Wellbeing engages employees through fitness challenges and games that provide benefits like gym memberships and charity contributions. Similarly, Unmind targets mental health, providing resources such as mindfulness activities and therapy.

The reward mix needs to be right and that mix needs to evolve over time. For example, offering a gym discount will not suit everyone, but offering a gym discount and reward for walking will appeal to a wider number of team members. 

One of the main issues is that people lose interest, or the rewards are just not engaging enough for them to bother. This is proven again and again when we see usage stats for companies that already have a well-being app. Usage can fluctuate year by year and often only half the population that engages regularly, so ongoing communication is also key to keep them effective. 

How wellness apps have changed peoples' lives

While engagement might be challenging, many wellness apps have shown they can improve one's health. For instance, apps offering health screenings can help detect conditions early, while mindfulness apps can reduce stress and improve sleep quality. A great example of a mindfulness app is the Calm app, which has proven to help people with sleep issues.

In a study involving 263 adults with sleep disturbances, participants used the Calm app for 10 minutes a day over eight weeks. Users experienced less fatigue, reduced daytime sleepiness, and lower levels of pre-sleep anxiety compared to a control group. Those who used the app also reported better overall sleep quality.

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Wellness apps in the workplace

The Calm app study shows how using wellness apps in a personal capacity can achieve great results. But the results of workplace wellness programs are mixed. 

In a 2022 study, the JAMA Network Open found that nearly 70% of participants in workplace mental health programs reported lower depression and anxiety symptoms, along with fewer missed workdays and increased productivity. 

A University of Oxford study published in the Industrial Relations Journal found that many programs didn't significantly improve well-being, though volunteering programs did help employees feel a greater sense of purpose.

These studies show that employee wellness apps will work, but can be dependent on many factors, such as active participation and the quality of the app in use.

One part of the wellness solution

Let's be clear: Wellness apps can't work miracles. If staff are working long hours in a highly stressful environment with little employer support, then a wellness app will not provide the solution.

However, they can make a significant difference in the workplace when part of a wider strategy that prioritizes health and well-being. They are a very effective complementary service to the health support offered through medical insurance schemes. 

Remember that apps are not created equally, so it's important that you're fully aware of what services are included. A truly holistic wellness app should provide for different areas of well-being, such as physical health and fitness, mental well-being, nutritional support, sleep support and even optional access to professional counseling.

Finally, don't forget to promote your wellness app to staff. If they don't know it's there, they won't use it or appreciate it!