| App | Who listens | Price (as published) | Free start | Text / voice | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeanOn | Screened peer listeners in India (application, screening quiz, live selfie + ID check, manual review). Not therapists. | Each listener sets a rate: 15 min from about ₹40, typically ₹160 (incl. ₹10 fee). Abroad from US$10. | First 5 minutes free, once per account | Text or voice (voice never recorded) | 18+ only |
| Clarity | Paid listeners; Clarity says listeners are identity-verified (Aadhaar for Indian listeners). Not therapists. | Clarity’s FAQ: mostly ₹8/min; listeners can set other rates | Not published | Chat, call, video call | Its policy says 18+ |
| HEED | HEED says its “Heeders” are trained peer support listeners, not licensed professionals; it also has paid licensed therapists. | HEED says ₹3/min for listeners, no subscription; therapists from ₹399 / 30 min | First 10 minutes at ₹1/min | Chat (others not published) | Not published |
| SayHey | Its terms say listeners are trained individuals registered with SayHey, not therapists. | Paid from a wallet; rates shown in the app | Its store listing says the first session is free | Call and chat | Not published |
| HearMeOut | Its site says listeners are verified for safety. | Its site says ₹50 for 30 minutes, pay as you go | Its site says “your first hello costs nothing” | Voice and chat | Not published |
| Lisners | Its store listing says every listener is trained in active listening, privacy and confidentiality. | Per session from an in-app wallet; rates shown in the app | Not published | Voice | App Store rating 13+ |
| 7 Cups | 7 Cups says trained volunteer listeners; paid licensed therapy separately. | Volunteer chat free; therapy about US$150–160/month (review sites) | Volunteer chat is free | Text chat | Separate area for 13–17 |
| TalkLife | A peer community: posts and peer chat, moderated (TalkLife says by safety teams and AI flags). Not one-to-one listeners. | TalkLife says it is free; optional paid membership | Free | Text posts and chat | 16+ (Better Internet for Kids guide) |
Prices change — check inside each app before you pay. Full details: best apps to talk to a real person.
LeanOn is for adults who want a private, one-to-one conversation with a screened listener in India, by text or voice, in English, Hindi or another Indian language. A typical LeanOn listener costs more per minute than HEED or Clarity’s published rates, and someone is not always online — availability follows Indian time.
It depends on what you need. Free and text-only: 7 Cups (volunteers) or TalkLife (community). Cheapest paid per minute: HEED or Clarity, by their published rates. A private one-to-one with a listener you choose, by text or voice, in an Indian language, with voice never recorded: LeanOn.
Yes — that is what listener apps are for. On LeanOn you can say at the start that you just want to be heard; listeners are screened on listening, not on giving advice.
It differs by app — read each one’s privacy policy. On LeanOn you can use any name, listeners never see your phone number, phone numbers and social handles are blocked in chat, voice calls are never recorded, and text messages are only opened by authorised staff if a session is reported or flagged for safety.
An AI can help you sort your thoughts at any hour. If what you want is to feel heard by another person, a listener app is the better fit. See human support instead of AI on LeanOn.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or NIMHANS on 080-46110007 (free). For ongoing low mood or anxiety, a licensed professional can help alongside talking to a listener.
More comparisons: best apps to talk to a real person in India.
A screened peer listener in India, by text or voice. Once per account; no card needed to start.
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