In this guide
What is Finch app?
Finch is a wellbeing app that takes a gamified approach to self-care. Users are given a virtual pet bird, called a Finch, which they can then personalise and care for by completing self-care tasks and engaging in healthy behaviour.
Positive habits earn users points called rainbow stones, which they can spend on clothes and furniture for their bird. Users can set their own custom goals or use one of the games suggestions, which include exercising, tidying and connecting with loved ones.
Finch is available on iOS and Android devices. It is free to download, and can be used effectively for free, but a paid version also exists. This version costs £70.99/year, but a 7-day free trial can be used before committing to paying for Finch Plus. The premium version gives addition customisation options for birds, more in-depth habit tracking and removes adverts.
The app is rated PEGI 3, meaning it is suitable for kids of all ages.
How it works
When starting to use Finch, users must first select the colour they would like their pet bird to be, name it and assign its pronouns, and then begin answering a quick assessment on how they feel and what they’d like to get out of the app. This assessment asks about the user’s mental health, age, gender, and daily life challenges.
Once this assessment is completed, the user will be presented with a daily plan which includes easy goals such as drinking water, brushing teeth and doing something that makes them happy. These are simple goals but can be useful for children who might otherwise neglect some self-care tasks like teeth brushing.
Completing these goals will earn users points that can be spent on cosmetic items like clothing for the bird and furniture for their coop. These items are very inclusive, with options such as pride flags and mobility canes.
Rewards can also be earned by logging in on consecutive days and having a streak. This encourages children to continue using the app, especially as they can see which rewards they would earn at different milestones like 7 days and 14 days in a row.
Users can become friends with other users and share their goals and progress with them. There is no option to message other users though, so this is quite a safe approach to friends in an app.
Finch parental controls
Finch does not offer any parental controls. However, being PEGI 3 rated, there is no inappropriate content or mature themes on the app.
If you do want to set controls for the app, such as limiting screen time or stopping your child from purchasing Finch Plus without your permission, you must set controls directly through the device’s settings.
Read our Android parental control or iOS parental control guides to get step-by-step instructions on how to set these limits.
Benefits of Finch
- Helps develop positive habits
- Free version has all essential features
- Child-friendly design and interface
- Gamified system encourages repeated use
- Inclusive, representation for all children
- Fun customisation
What to watch out for
The Finch app is overall a great tool for children’s wellbeing. It is aimed at children and is a safe experience. However, there are still some things you should watch out for if your child starts using Finch.
Finch is gamified and encourages users to log on every day and complete a list of goals. For some users, this could cause feelings of stress, as they are pressured to complete these daily tasks. If your child has these feelings, be sure to reassure them and work with them to reduce the stress they feel about the app, perhaps by changing their daily tasks or by using a less gamified wellbeing app.
Another risk of a gamified design is that children may spend an excessive amount of time on the app customising their Finch and viewing its progress. Placing a time limit on how long they can use the app through the device’s settings can help manage their screen usage. Visit our screen time advice hub for more advice on excessive screen use.