Koko – free, anonymous peer support for young people

Free, Anonymous Emotional Support

Koko is a non-profit service offering self-guided, short mini-courses to help you manage your wellbeing. Resources are anonymous, global, and available 24/7.

🌱 Mini-courses

Explore 5-10 minute courses to help you feel better.
Free. Anonymous. No sign-up.

Reframe negative thoughts course – evidence-based tools to shift unhelpful thinking and manage stress

Reframe negative thoughts

Start Course

Learn to support friends

Start Course
Self-harm support course – safe, anonymous strategies to manage urges and stay grounded

Cope with self-harm urges

Start Course

Stay safe during dark thoughts

Start Course

Need more support? Call or text a crisis line from our trusted global resource directory.

✨ About Koko

Learn more about how Koko works and how we protect your privacy.

Koko is built for safety, privacy and trust

Koko is a non-profit service dedicated to helping young people — always free, always anonymous. We never sell or commercialize your data. Our tools and mini-courses are backed by rigorous research, designed in collaboration with mental health experts and young people themselves.

We uphold our ethical commitments to users by:

  • Protecting your privacy: No collection of personally identifying information. Your interactions remain anonymous, and your data is never used for advertising.
  • Evidence-based impact: Our platform has been analyzed in over eight peer-reviewed publications, including multiple randomized controlled trials.
  • Ethical oversight: We maintain internal and external review through an independent ethics advisory board, in addition to Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes.
  • Transparent ethical standards: We publish our Ethical Commitments and Research & Insights so you can see how we build, test, monitor, and protect the experience for every user.

Learn more about our ethical commitments →
View detailed research & insights →

"Yesterday, I was feeling very suicidal. I had no idea this bot service existed, but I’m very thankful it popped up on my screen because it saved me."

— Tumblr user

"I love helping others and this gives me a chance to do so. Not only can I help others but I can reach out when I need support and advice."

— Discord user

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Koko work?

Koko offers 5–10 minute coping courses, backed by rigorous research, to help you manage common struggles like stress, anxiety, low mood, body confidence, or self-harm urges. You can also exchange kind words of support to others anonymously—globally and 24/7.

Is Koko free?

Yes. Koko is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit in San Francisco, United States. As a non-profit, Koko's services are completely free. There are no fees, subscriptions, or hidden charges to use Koko.

Is Koko anonymous?

Yes. Koko does not collect any personally identifiable information, unless you voluntarily provide it. Koko is committed to protecting your privacy and will never sell or commercialise your data. Read more about Koko's ethical commitments →  

Is Koko therapy?

No. Koko provides coping tools. Koko is not a substitute for professional care. If you’re in crisis, please call or text a crisis line from our trusted global directory.  

Is Koko an app?

Koko does not have an app on any app store, including the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can use Koko directly on WhatsApp, Discord, or Telegram on any device, including iOS, Android, and desktop. No sign-up or extra downloads are required to use Koko.

Does Koko sell my data?

No. Koko never sells, shares, or commercialises user data. Koko is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to transparency and user safety.

Is Koko safe?

Koko is guided by rigorous research, external ethics advisors, and multiple peer-reviewed studies. Koko's tools are reviewed for safety and effectiveness, and user privacy is prioritised.

Is Koko available outside the U.S.?

Yes. Koko is global, and currently available in English only, with additional language support coming soon.

Can Koko really help?

Koko has reached over 5 million young people worldwide, and 88% of our users report finding Koko helpful, or feel more hopeful. Randomised controlled trials have also shown Koko's tools can reduce distress and strengthen coping skills.