Do Quit Apps and Text Programs Help?

Health Canada says apps and text messaging services can provide tips and motivation, and the best research we found points to text messaging as the more helpful of the two. A 2019 Cochrane review found moderate-certainty evidence that automated text messages help more people quit than minimal support. For apps, the same review found very low certainty evidence. Neither replaces a person or a medicine, but a text program can sit alongside them.

What does Health Canada say?

On its quit-smoking page, Health Canada lists apps and text messaging as sources of tips and motivation. It does not name particular apps or rank them, and we do not either. Health Canada presents a range of supports, so apps and texts are one option among several.

What did the 2019 Cochrane review find?

The review looked at mobile phone text messaging and app-based programs. For text messaging, it found moderate-certainty evidence on two points:

• Automated texting helped more people quit than minimal support (risk ratio 1.54, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.00).
• It added benefit when used on top of other support (risk ratio 1.59, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.33).

For smartphone apps, the evidence was of very low certainty, with a risk ratio of 1.00 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.52). In plain terms, the review could not show that apps helped, and it was not confident either way. That describes the research, and a particular app may still suit you.

What does the Task Force say?

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care’s 2025 guideline includes mobile phone interventions with an SMS component in its menu of recommended interventions. On online programs, it conditionally recommends interactive ones only when they come with direct behavioural support, and conditionally recommends against online programs without additional support.

Which provincial programs offer text or online support?

These are the programs we confirmed on official or program pages:

• Alberta: AlbertaQuits has a helpline at 1-866-710-7848 and text support (text ABQUITS to 123456).
• New Brunswick: Tobacco Free NB has phone support at 1-866-366-3667 and text support (text SMOKEFREENB to 123456).
• Newfoundland and Labrador: the Smokers’ Helpline offers phone coaching at 1-800-363-5864 and text support at 709-700-7002.
• Nunavut: the NuQuits Quit Line is 1-866-368-7848, and text NUQUITS to 123456 is also offered.
• Quebec: iQuitnow offers free, confidential support online, by phone and in person at a tobacco cessation centre.

Other provinces may offer similar services. Our free help by province page lists more, and people who vape can read how to quit vaping.

How to use these tools

Because the research favours texting added to other support, you might pair a text program with a plan and a person to call. The quit plan builder helps you set the plan, and how to choose your quit method covers medicines and counselling. We could not confirm costs or privacy practices for commercial apps, so check those before you install one.