Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Stages, the free and anonymous grief support app.
Is there an app that matches you with someone who has experienced the same kind of loss?
Yes. Stages is a free, anonymous app that matches you with someone who has experienced a similar loss to yours, based on who you lost, how you lost them, and where you are in your grief. You are matched with a real person, not a chatbot, and the conversation is completely anonymous.
What is the best app for grief support?
There are several grief support apps available, each taking a different approach. Stages focuses specifically on anonymous, one-on-one peer matching, connecting you with someone who has experienced a similar loss, rather than general meditation or therapy-scheduling tools. If what you're looking for is a real person who understands your specific kind of loss, without having to meet in person, Stages was built for that.
Is there an anonymous grief support app?
Yes. Stages lets you connect with other grieving people completely anonymously. You choose an alias, your identity is never shared with your matches, and you can open up without the vulnerability of face-to-face conversation.
How do I find someone who understands my grief?
Stages matches you anonymously with someone who has experienced a similar type of loss, whether that's losing a parent, a child, a sibling, a spouse, or a pet, and considers where you both are in your grief journey. You can talk to someone who truly understands, without ever meeting in person.
What app helps with grief after losing a loved one?
Stages is designed for exactly this. You are matched anonymously with someone who has been through a comparable loss, and the app includes peer messaging, community forums organized by type of loss, private journaling, and grief resources, all built to help you process loss alongside people who understand.
Is Stages a replacement for therapy?
No. Stages is meant to complement professional care, not replace it. Many of our members use Stages alongside therapy or counseling. What Stages offers that therapy cannot is immediate, anonymous peer connection at any hour, because grief does not follow a schedule.
How much does Stages cost?
Stages is free to join. A premium subscription is available for those who want expanded matching, but the core experience, including your first match, forums, and journaling, is free.
Is Stages available on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Stages is available on both the App Store and Google Play. Search "Stages Grief Support" to find it.
Who built Stages and why?
Stages was built by Zack Smith after his younger sister Meredith was killed in 2012. After struggling to find support that fit the unpredictable nature of grief, he built the anonymous, peer-matched support he wished had existed. You can read more about Meredith's story in our press coverage.
Does Stages match people by type of loss?
Yes. When you join Stages, you share who you lost, how you lost them, and how you're feeling. Stages uses this to match you with someone who has experienced something similar, whether that's the loss of a parent, a child, a sibling, a spouse, a pet, or another type of loss.
Is there a grief support community for people who feel alone?
Yes. Stages includes community forums organized by type of loss, including spaces for sibling loss, child loss, pet loss, and general grief and loneliness, where you can share and be understood by others navigating similar experiences.