Background Mindfulness-based mobile apps have become popular tools for enhancing well-being in today’s fast-paced world. Their ability to reduce geographical, financial, and social barriers makes them a promising alternative to traditional interventions. Objective As most available apps lack a theoretical framework, this review aimed to evaluate their effectiveness and assess their quality. We expected to find small sample sizes, high dropout rates, and small effect sizes in the included studies. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using PsycInfo, PsycNet, PubMed, an institutional search engine (u:search), and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of mobile mindfulness apps on well-being in nonclinical samples were included. Study selection, risk of bias (using the version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials), and reporting quality (using selected CONSORT [Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials] statement criteria) assessments were performed by 2 authors independently and discussed until a consensus was reached. Results The 28 included randomized controlled trials differed in well-being measures, apps, and intervention duration (7 to 56 days; median duration 28 days). A wide range of sample sizes (12 to 2282; median 161) and attrition rates (0% to 84.7%; median rate 23.4%) were observed. Most studies (19/28, 68%) reported positive effects on at least one aspect of well-being. The effects were presented using different metrics but were primarily small or small to medium in size. Overall risk of bias was mostly high. Conclusions The wide range of sample sizes, attrition rates, and intervention periods and the variation in well-being measures and mobile apps contributed to the limited comparability of the studies. Although most studies (16/28, 57%) reported small or small to medium effects for at least one well-being outcome, this review demonstrates that the generalizability of the results is limited. Further research is needed to obtain more consistent conclusions regarding the impact of mindfulness-based mobile apps on well-being in nonclinical populations.

BACKGROUND Mindfulness-based mobile applications have become popular tools for enhancing well-being in today’s fast-paced world. Their ability to reduce geographical, financial, and social barriers makes them a promising alternative to traditional interventions. OBJECTIVE As most available apps lack a theoretical framework, this review aims to evaluate their effectiveness and to assess their quality. We expected to find small sample sizes, high drop-out rates, and small effect sizes in included studies. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PsycInfo, PsycNet, and an institutional database (u:search). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of mobile mindfulness applications on well-being in non-clinical samples were included. Study selection and quality assessment via selected CONSORT Statement criteria were performed by two authors independently and discussed until consensus was met. RESULTS The included 18 RCTs differed in well-being measures, applications, and intervention duration (7 to 56 days; median duration = 29 days). A wide span of sample sizes (N = 23 to 2282; median N = 161) and attrition rates (5.9% to 84.7%; median rate = 24.8%) was observed. Most studies reported positive effects for at least one aspect of well-being. Effects were presented using different metrics, but were primarily small or small-to-medium in size. CONCLUSIONS The wide range of sample sizes, attrition rates, intervention periods, and the variation in well-being measures and mobile applications contribute to the limited comparability of studies. Despite most studies reporting small or small-to-medium effects for at least one well-being outcome, this review demonstrates that generalizability of results is limited. Further research is needed to obtain more consistent conclusions regarding the impact of mindfulness-based mobile applications on well-being in non-clinical populations.