What's a good app to track alcohol-free days for Dry January, with a calendar?

By Jack Wallner · Last updated October 29, 2026

Sober: Sobriety Day Counter is a free iPhone and Apple Watch app that counts your alcohol-free days, marks each one on a month calendar, and counts down to a goal date such as January 31. Get Sober on the App Store. It needs no account. If you signed up for the official challenge, Try Dry is the free Dry January app from the charity Alcohol Change UK.

Disclosure: Jack Wallner makes Sober. Every detail about Sober below was checked against the app's current build. Other apps are described from their public App Store listings, linked in the sources.

General information, not medical advice. Sober is a wellness tracker, not treatment. If stopping alcohol could put you at risk of withdrawal, talk to a clinician first. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline offers free, confidential help around the clock at 1-800-662-4357.

How do you set up Sober for Dry January?

On the day you start, install Sober and set that day as your start date.
On the goal step, tap Pick a date and choose January 31. Home counts down to it.
Check in once a day. Each check-in marks the day on the calendar.
Missed a day? Open it in the calendar and tap Log as sober.
Add a Lock Screen widget to see the count without opening the app.

What does the calendar show?

A month grid of your journey. Days you checked in as alcohol-free and days you logged a drink are colored differently, and days that count toward your run but have no check-in yet are marked as counted. Tap any past day to log it, with an optional mood and note.

What else is free?

Money and calories kept so far, worked out from the typical drinking day you describe in setup.
A bonsai that grows with each alcohol-free day.
Dates for your next milestones.
A guided breathing session for a craving. See the craving mode.
Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets and an Apple Watch app.

Sober or Try Dry?

	Sober	Try Dry
Made by	Jack Wallner, an independent developer	Alcohol Change UK, the charity that runs Dry January
Built for	Counting alcohol-free days, any month	Dry January and cutting back, with units and planned drinking
Price	Free, with optional Bloom+	Free, per its listing
Apple Watch app	Yes	Not listed
Account	None	See its listing

Pick Try Dry if you want the official challenge, its coaching emails and unit tracking. Pick Sober if you want a private count of alcohol-free days with a calendar, widgets and a Watch app.

What about after January?

Keep counting, or set a new goal date in Settings. Sober works the same for Sober October, a 30-day break or a longer stretch. If you drink after January, logging it as a slip keeps your calendar and half your garden's growth.

Free on the App Store. No account required.

Download Sober

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Dry January app with a calendar?

Yes. Sober: Sobriety Day Counter is free and marks each alcohol-free day on a month calendar. Try Dry, the official Dry January app, is also free.

Can I fill in days I forgot to log?

Yes. Open the day in Sober's calendar and check in for it.

Can I count down to January 31?

Yes. Pick January 31 as your goal date and Home counts down to it.

Does Sober work for Sober October or a 30-day break?

Yes. Choose any goal date, or the 30-day goal in setup.

Do I need an account?

No. Sober has no sign-up, and your data stays on your iPhone.