1. Ask your doctor for a recommendation. “There are some apps that physicians really swear by,” says Benjamin Kummer, MD, director of clinical informatics in neurology and an associate professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. “Sometimes doctors can advise you about whether an app will be useful or not.” Show your health care provider what the app tracks and ask whether the information will help inform care decisions, he suggests.
2. Look for research and/or endorsements. No overall standards or certifications exist for assuring that most apps adhere to safety concerns or that the information provided or data collected is accurate, so check app makers’ websites or use the National Library of Medicine's research database for studies showing that a product is effective. Some apps have been developed or endorsed by major medical organizations that focus on neurologic conditions—such as the American Stroke Association, Parkinson's Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and others. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can certify software as a medical device, few apps qualify, and apps associated with specific medical devices often are unregulated.
3. Keep data privacy in mind. “It's important for people to understand who owns the data that users input and whether the app maker shares it,” says Mia T. Minen, MPH, MD, FAAN, a headache medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Privacy policies can be difficult to decipher, she adds. If you can't find this information on the app maker's website or where you download apps online, contact the app company and ask about its privacy policies, Dr. Kummer suggests. When an app discloses that the data may be shared with “trusted partners” or to “improve the user experience,” this often means the data is being leveraged for targeted ads or packaged sale of data to those partners.
4. Don't over-pay. While some apps might have extra features you may want and choose to pay for, such as individual coaching, be sure you're not paying for extras you don't want or need, Dr. Kummer says.
5. Consider how it will work for you. Don't forget the basics, Dr. Minen says. Make sure an app will work on your phone's operating system and is available in your preferred language. And if you don't like it or have difficulty using an app, then it's not for you. “An app needs to work well for you, no matter what you've read and heard about it,” Dr. Kummer says. “If it doesn't, try something else.”

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