TRY DRY: The Dry January app vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against TRY DRY: The Dry January app's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Core Identity
DeveloperAlcohol Research UKJonathan KoppRamkumar VellaisamyZanec Soft Tech Private LimitedTinybiohacks Private LimitedE-protectAttentive ClubCatalyst Tech LLCRaised Square, LLCUpright Technologies Ltd
CategoryHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & Fitness
PlatformAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOSAndroid, iOSiOSiOSiOSiOS, AndroidiOSiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.9 / 54.8 / 54.3 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.3 / 54.2 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 5
Ratings Count2,77411,444337448804,115106204,3953,929
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateDec 11, 2018Oct 14, 2019Feb 18, 2024Dec 10, 2015Oct 19, 2020Sep 8, 2011Oct 15, 2021Jul 2, 2015May 23, 2014May 6, 2020
Last UpdatedApr 15, 2026Apr 24, 2026Mar 5, 2026Aug 12, 2025Apr 2, 2026Mar 17, 2026May 1, 2026Apr 2, 2026Mar 27, 2018Apr 30, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositivemixed-mixed-excellent-negativeexcellentterrible
Score70/10065/100-35/100-85/100-25/10085/10015/100
Praises
  • Gamified tracking of alcohol-free days provides consistent motivation for long-term habit change
  • Non-judgmental tone and educational content support users during challenging sobriety or moderation journeys
  • Community support and shared quitting journeys provide essential motivation for long-term users
-
  • Personalized motivational nudges and daily reminders help users maintain consistent sobriety goals
  • Simple dashboard interface allows users to track alcohol consumption and dry days effectively
-
  • Simple and intuitive interface design allows users to track alcohol consumption without complex setup requirements
-
  • Professional coaching and structured daily lessons provide high value for fitness accountability
  • Highly customizable reminder intervals allow users to tailor movement goals to specific physical needs
  • Minimalist interface design provides effective utility without distracting from primary work tasks
  • Posture correction device provides effective physical feedback for users struggling with slouching habits
Complaints
  • Frequent application freezing and unresponsive screens disrupt the daily logging habit for many users
  • Inconsistent data synchronization and calculation errors undermine trust in the sobriety tracking metrics
  • Aggressive paywalls restrict access to basic community features and essential progress milestones
-
  • Critical login loops and authentication errors prevent access to historical tracking data
  • Cluttered interface design post-update obscures simple tracking functionality for long-term users
  • Inflexible data entry requirements for weight and personal metrics frustrate users
-
  • One-way Apple Health synchronization prevents data integration from other third-party tracking applications
-
  • Messaging and media sharing failures disrupt communication between coaches and their clients
  • Persistent network errors and data sync failures prevent reliable workout logging
  • Intermittent notification failures prevent consistent reminders after the latest update on certain devices
  • App hijacks external web links and forces them to open within the application interface
  • Persistent connectivity failures between the mobile application and the physical posture trainer device
Requests
  • Localized measurement units for volume would improve usability for users outside the United Kingdom
  • Interactive social features like liking and replying to motivational posts from other users
-
  • Customizable goal settings allow users to track moderation without mandatory weight input
-
  • Addition of a daily notes section to document context behind specific drinking events
-
  • Desktop web portal access requested to facilitate easier viewing and content casting
  • Native Apple Watch application support to enable reminders without relying on the primary phone
  • Integration with native health tracking platforms to sync posture data automatically
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Charity-backed authority builds high user trust
  • Behavioral science framework differentiates from abstinence-only apps
  • Buddy System social network effect drives retention
  • Community forum engagement increases session frequency
  • Financial savings calculator provides immediate positive reinforcement
-
  • Clinical backing via AlcoChange framework increases switching costs
  • Daily progress visualization drives session frequency
  • Viral sharing loops facilitate organic acquisition
-
  • Intuitive interface design drives daily habit formation
  • Unit conversion logic establishes health-authority
  • Apple Health integration creates data lock-in
  • Privacy-first design using Apple Screen Time API avoids VPN-related trust issues
  • Science-based habit practices provide a structured path for behavioral change
  • B2B distribution model locks clients into trainer-led service delivery
  • Direct integration with professional coaching programs provides high accountability
  • Location-based alerts minimize notification fatigue [Market Segment]
  • Minimalist design reduces cognitive load [User Experience]
  • High user trust built on non-intrusive tracking [Retention]
  • Proprietary vibration-feedback mechanism creates high switching costs
  • Real-time avatar visualizes progress to drive daily session frequency
Weaknesses
  • Frequent interface freezes on the latest release
  • Lack of social accountability features
  • Missing non-UK measurement units
  • Aggressive paywalling of previously free milestones
  • Broken in-app notification system
  • High subscription cost relative to competitor value
-
  • Critical authentication loops cause historical data loss
  • Post-update interface clutter alienates long-term users
  • Mandatory weight input creates unnecessary friction
-
  • One-way Apple Health sync limits utility
  • Aggressive monetization prompts erode long-term user trust
  • Granular volume measurement options are missing
  • Subscription-only model creates high friction for new users
  • Lack of social accountability features limits viral growth potential
  • 3.53 rating on Android indicates severe stability issues
  • Messaging failures block core coach-client communication
  • Frequent network errors prevent data persistence
  • Notification reliability issues on recent builds [Android/iOS]
  • Lack of landscape orientation on tablets [Tablet Segment]
  • No native wearable integration [Feature Gap]
  • 2.05-point Android-iOS rating gap on majority Android base
  • Persistent device-sync failures drive high churn
Pricingfreefreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreefreemiumsubscriptionfreefreemiumfree
MomentumMaintenanceMaintenance-Zombie-MaintenanceMaintenance-ZombieMaintenance
Update Cadence2 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~0d avg2 versions, ~5d avg-2 versions, ~2d avg-1 versions, 1 majors/6mo1 versions-1 versions, 1 majors/6mo2 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~2d avg

Compare TRY DRY: The Dry January app head-to-head

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AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by TRY DRY: The Dry January app, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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