Heroic App Review 2024: The Training Platform to Become Your Best Self

Hey there, welcome to our hands-on look at the Heroic App—the personal transformation tool that’s become an integral part of our daily lives.

Since its launch in 2022, the app has been guiding us to move from theory to practice to mastery. But what does that mean exactly? Does it live up to the hype? And more importantly, is it worth your hard-earned cash?

We’ve been putting it through its paces since it was launched, and in this detailed review, we’ll share our insights and experiences and answer any questions you may have.

By the end of it, you’ll have a good idea of what’s included, how it will help you become your best most Heroic self, and what the price-to-value relationship looks like. (Because knowing what’s in the box BEFORE BUYING is important!)

Today’s the day. Let’s go, Hero!

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Heroic App: Overview

We’ve been using this app on an almost* daily basis since March 2022.

*We’ve skipped a day here and there because, well, we’re human. 

Although it is jam-packed with goodness (which we’ll get to in a bit), everything hinges on the 3-minute-a-day commitment practice. This is where you decide on and commit to your targets (goals) for the day.

This feature alone is worth the yearly subscription, but as you’ll soon see, you get waaaay more than that for your investment.

Along with doing the daily commitment practice, we also make full use of the ton of wisdom that the Heroic platform offers. Its extensive library of self-improvement resources has been a lifesaver for us as we’ve navigated life’s various challenges en route to becoming the best, most Heroic versions of ourselves.

Of the 600+ Philosopher’s Notes (book distillations), 1500+ Plus 1s (micro lessons), and 50+ hour-long 101 Master Classes, we’ve barely scratched the surface because Brian Johnson (Heroic’s founder) and his team are constantly adding to the content!

It’s hard to put into words just how much the Heroic app has helped us since we first downloaded it. Our hope with this review is that you’ll be inspired to try it out and experience some of the goodness for yourself!

Heroic App Pros and Cons

Product Pros

  • Cross-platform availability
  • Sleek and intuitive design
  • Crazy amount of content
  • Makes habit-tracking fun
  • Social platform

Product Cons

  • No third-party integrations
  • Limited access on free plan

Heroic App Pros

Paint by numbers: Basic Training covers Heroic’s 7 objectives in bite-size chunks, so you get a feel for everything the platform offers.

Helps you create good habits and delete undesirable ones: The app uses the best behavioral design technology to get you addicted to doing what’s good for you.

Helps you define your purpose and vision: You’ll learn how to play the ultimate game well (think big picture macro-level), and the game-like swipe and celebrate system will help you move towards your goals every day (on a micro-level)

Available on iOS and Android platforms: Because Team Heroic is all about democracy!

Heroic App Cons

No third-party integrations: The app lacks integrations with other platforms. But hey, who needs digital interruptions when you’re optimizing your life?

Limited access for free users: Some advanced features and premium content require a paid subscription. However, there’s still plenty of accessible content in the free offering!

Quick Verdict: Is It Worth the Money?

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After using this app almost every single day for over a year, I have to say YES! It is worth every cent. Oh, and Ang agrees with me 100% on this!

For only $99 for the year, you get basic training on how to close the gap between who you currently are and who you can be. (Brian is all in on this and reminds us of it repeatedly.)

When you subscribe, you also get unlimited access to the following:

>> Big Ideas from 600+ of the world’s best personal development books in 20 minutes or less. Think CliffNotes for self-development.

>> 50+ 101 Master Classes and 1,000+ Heroic +1s covering 33+ categories (mental toughness, Stoic philosophy, positive psychology, etc.) to help you flourish.

>> The Daily Target Practice, which research has shown to increase energy, productivity, and connection.

>> Heroic Social (aptly named ‘Together’ on the app) is where you post updates, share wins, celebrate others, make friends, ask for and offer support, etc. The best part? There is ZERO negativity there!

Now, $99 for the year might sound like a lot of money (especially for non-US residents who have to contend with less-than-optimal exchange rates).

But if you break it down, it’s only $0.27 per day for unlimited access to the world’s finest minds on not only living your best life but putting their ideas into action and making it work for you.

For the price of 47 coffees (with plant milk) ☕️, Ang and I have transformed ourselves from couch potato Netflix junkies to productive energizer bunnies. In our minds, that’s money well spent!

But don’t be fooled. It’s not easy. You have to show up and do the work. No one else will get you off that couch. Only you can do that!

That said, when you have a Master Philosopher (Brian Johnson) as your guide, an easy-to-follow step-by-step program (Basic Training), and an abundance of content to inspire you along the way, it actually is easy.

It also makes the Heroic App a no-brainer. I mean, with all that goodness, why wouldn’t you give greatness a shot? Especially when they offer a 30-day free trial to put it through its paces before committing.

Unless you download it and never look at it again, you’re bound to see a difference in 30 days. You’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain, so why not try it?

Who Is It For?

You’ll love the Heroic App if:

  • You’re interested in unlocking your full potential and living your best life.
  • You want access to uplifting and positive content that can fuel your motivation and boost your spirits.
  • You’re looking for a go-to resource that serves up the most inspiring and practical books in bite-sized portions, making personal growth a manageable and enjoyable journey.

You won’t love the Heroic App if:

  • You’d rather eat Oreos, drink beer, binge on Netflix, and avoid any effort to improve your life. Been there, done that!
  • You prefer doom-scrolling through negative social media feeds instead of surrounding yourself with positivity and inspiration.
  • You’re not interested in finding an inspiring mentor or joining a motivated community that can help you on your journey to success.

Product Overview

The Heroic app is a powerful tool that can enhance every area of your life. With it, you have an expert coach and guide ready to help you reach your full potential.

With its wide range of engaging content and exercises, including movement, mindfulness, productivity practices, and community interactions, you’ll unlock your full potential in just a few minutes a day.

The Heroic app comes with:

  • 1,000+ Heroic +1s
  • 600+ PhilosophersNotes (1,000s of Big Ideas from Best Self-Help Books)
  • 50+ Hour-Long 101 Classes
  • Dozens of Heroic Meditations
  • Favorite, Save, and Mark Content As Complete features
  • Heroic Basic Training (10 hours of Life-Changing Practical Wisdom)
  • Heroic Target Practice (Daily Behavior Design and Habit Tracking)

Here are some of the things that put it head and shoulders above the rest:

Heroic is unlike any other training platform out there. It’s like having a personal coach right in your pocket to help you become a true Hero in your own life.

The app is super easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and a design that just makes sense. You’ll love how effortless it is to navigate and engage with all the amazing content.

And the best part? Heroic is always updating its library, constantly adding new features, and keeping you up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. So you’ll never get bored or feel like you’re missing out on anything.

My Personal Experience: A Lifeline Through Health Struggles

Around the middle of 2020, I started getting headaches on a daily basis. (This was during lockdown, so I couldn’t blame the wine because, thanks to our President, there was none to be had.) I quickly became reliant on Grandpa headache powders, which, thankfully, were still freely available.

As the year drew to a close, Ang and I decided to relocate to the country. Remote working was now a thing and we figured the fresh air would do me good. Around this time, two things happened to improve matters.

A consultation with an integrative health specialist revealed that I had metal poisoning. Not great news, but having a diagnosis meant I could do more than toss back headache powders like bar peanuts to feel better.

The other (in my mind, more important) thing is that we were gifted a Heroic Coach scholarship. As I wrestled with persistent health challenges, the 300-day program helped me hang onto my fitness, confidence, and mental well-being.

Sadly, it turned out there was no fresh air to be had in the area we’d chosen to move to since the citrus farm opposite us thought drenching their oranges in pesticides was a good idea. Ironically, moving back to the city was the healthier choice.

I was doing great, but when the Coach program came to an end I struggled to maintain the motivation and momentum I’d built up over the past year without the support of the Heroic community.

So when Heroic announced the launch of their new app early in 2022 Ang and I bought it the minute it was released. Created in partnership with MetaLab (the guys behind Uber, Slack, and Headspace), we knew it would be a game-changer for us.

From menopause and anxiety to mercury poisoning and covid vaccine side effects, the Heroic app has given us the tools we both needed to navigate our collective sh*t storm.

We watch at least one +1 over breakfast every day. These nuggets of wisdom either provide an aha moment or a kick in the pants. A great way to set the tone for the day!

Note: We recorded this video when the platform was still called Optimize (more on that in the FAQ). While the walkthrough no longer applies, the basic premise does so make sure you watch it anyway!

When I wake up feeling under the weather (which thankfully happens a lot less these days), knowing that there is something that’ll pull me out of the funk so I can keep going is invaluable!

Brian talks about setting a super easy baseline so you always have a win, even on very tough days. For me, that’s 9 action targets a day (3 targets each for energy, work, and love).

When I hit my basic targets I know that I can trust myself to do what I need to do (antifragility style) to get through the day! As I swipe targets I watch the best most heroic version of me unfold.

Today, I’m grateful to Ang and this remarkable tool for keeping me healthy and sane.

Best Features of the App

Check out this 27-minute video for a glimpse of the power of the Heroic app!

1. Heroic Target Practice (Daily Behavior Design and Habit Tracking)

In contrast to other habit-tracking tools that just log your activities, Heroic positions your targets in a game-like reward system.

Swiping each time you achieve a target, no matter how big or small, is immensely gratifying. You’re constantly motivated and engaged—not just tracking but truly celebrating your progress. 

Yes! That’s like me to show up and do what I said I would do!

Once you hit your top 3 in each category (energy, work, and love) the screen goes red and you get an awesome message of encouragement.

Experiencing this part of the app is extremely gratifying. Specifically designed to give you micro-wins and tiny hits of dopamine to keep you going, it feels like you’re playing a game. Only, you win all of the time.

2. A Vast Vault of Incredible Content

Many platforms feature recycled or generic content, but Heroic stands apart by offering a vast library of original content presented (mostly) by Brian Johnson himself. It makes the platform a more personalized and authentic source of growth and learning.

The content comes in a variety of formats giving you the flexibility to choose what you like or what you have time for.

1,000+ Heroic +1s: These micro gems of content are rarely longer than 5 minutes. We watch at least one every morning at brekkie. Along with leaving us with some impactful and practical inspiration, it also sets the tone for the day.

600+ PhilosophersNotes (1,000s of Big Ideas from Best Self-Help Books): Succinct and jam-packed, these distillations are served up as 6-page PDFs and 20-25-minute audio files. Read or listen your way to understanding concepts that are bound to help you move towards being who you want to be.

Personally, I find reading them better for retaining the info, although I also downloaded the audio files for my work commute before I became a dinkum digital nomad. 🙂

50+ Hour-Long 101 Classes: When you have a bit more time and are able to take notes, these engaging and practical classes are aimed at helping you improve different aspects of your life. Topics include confidence, sleep, habits, nutrition, etc. Ang and I have benefited greatly from watching these classes.

We should really get to watching more, Ang!

250+ Heroic Meditations: Presented by Brian’s wife, Alexandra, these are formulated to train your mind so you can show up as the best heroic version of yourself. Anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes in length, they’re not your typical ‘focus on your breath’ meditations.

Yes, she does encourage you take take long deep breaths, but they’re very much grounded in the practical day-to-day aspects of living. In some of them, their kids Emmerson and Eleanore, join her. Super sweet!

3. Favorite, Save, and Mark Content As Complete

While many apps only allow for content to be favorited or saved, Heroic goes a step further by letting you mark some as complete.

This feature makes it super easy to keep track of what you’ve already consumed. I’ve found this especially helpful when curating PNs for those commutes.

4. Heroic Basic Training (10 hours of Life-Changing Practical Wisdom)

Brian guides you through a mini-course of the seven core objectives to be the best, most Heroic version of yourself using the best of ancient wisdom and modern science, along with all the practical tools you need to put the theory into action.

Rather than leave you to drown in an ocean of content, Heroic’s Basic Training feature acts as your initial guide. This structured start to your self-improvement journey distinguishes Heroic as a more user-friendly, approachable platform.

I have yet to complete this training. This is partly because we started using the app before it was launched, but mainly because it’s a distilled version Heroic Coach, which Ang and I have already gone through twice.

If you’re new to Heroic, it’s definitely the best way to get to know the basics of both the platform and Brian’s teachings.

Conclusion: Should You Buy the Heroic App?

We’ve explored the app’s strengths, its beautiful interface, the motivating Soul Force feature, and its supportive community. I’ve also shared my personal story of how much using this app has benefited me.

It’s kept me on track while dealing with health challenges and helped me to achieve the goals I set for myself. At the same time teaching me that if I fail, I learn! Today is always Day 1!

All this to say, Ang and I recommend this app wholeheartedly.

The $99.00 subscription might seem expensive but consider that it only costs you 0.27c per day to get motivated, have access to a ton of content (which is being updated and added to almost daily!), and be supported by a like-minded community that is on fire!

When you look at it that way it really seems quite cheap eh?

Remember, every change starts with a single step. Take that step today! Download the app, embark on a life-changing adventure, and become the best version of yourself.

Are you ready to unleash your full potential? Day 1. All in. Let’s go, Hero!

Areté: The Book Everyone Needs Right Now

Whilst getting all of that done, Brian also took it upon himself to write a book! Arete: Activate Your Heroic Potential contains 451 potentially life-changing ideas. Now, Brian says ‘potentially’ because obviously if you don’t apply the nuggets of wisdom captured in each of those ideas, well, they probably won’t be of much good to you.

Why 451? Well in true Brian Johnson style, that’s not random. 451º is activation energy!

Areté book cover with quote from Phil Stutz

Just as he’s done with the Heroic App, and in the Heroic Coach program, Brian Johnson has integrated ancient wisdom, modern science, and practical tools in the book as well.

And because Brian isn’t a half-measures kind of guy (if he was he’d probably have stopped with the PhilosopherNotes), he’s also recorded an accompanying video for each of the chapters in the book. Aptly titled Areté +1º! Yup, that’s like him!

Visit Heroic to download a free PDF of the first 11 micro-chapters of Areté, which includes the must-read foreword by Phil Stutz, MD. You can also listen to the first 45+ minutes of the audiobook on their podcast or by downloading the MP3. (Links to all of that here.)

This book will change your life. And, if enough of us commit, it will change the world.

Phil Stuz, author of The Tools, featured in Netflix documentary Stutz, Brian’s personal coach

This quote from Phil Stutz is only one of many from some of the world’s most well-known people. These of just some of the ones who’ve reviewed the book. You’ll find a bunch more at the beginning of the free PDF:

Cal Newport: Bestselling author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work

John Mackey: Co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods

Mark Divine: Retired Navy SEAL Commander, New York Times bestselling author of Unbeatable Mind and The Way of the SEAL

Joe De Sena: CEO and founder of Spartan

Pilar Gerasimo: Award-winning health journalist, podcaster, and author of The Healthy Deviant

Sonja Lyubomirsky: Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, bestselling author of The How of Happiness

Ready to grab your copy of Areté? The book releases on Tuesday, 14 November. Order yours now on Amazon, or visit Heroic to find out where else you can find it. My guess is that by Wednesday morning (if not sooner) it’ll be on the New York Times best-seller list.

In which case you won’t have any trouble whatsoever tracking down a copy. Actually, now that I think about it. Maybe you will!? Because it’ll probably be sold out in the first five minutes. My advice? Buy a digital copy and read it on your Kindle.

Personal Development App Alternatives

As you can tell we’re huge fans, but we know one size doesn’t fit all in the world of personal development. Let’s take a quick look at some other platforms you might find worth checking out.

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Photo by Sama Hosseini on Unsplash

Heroic is a unique beast. We struggled to find many apps that offer a similar breadth of content. That said, it’s always worthwhile to consider other options that might work better for you.

Here are three other personal development platforms that you could take a look at:

1. Coach.me

If you’re the sort who enjoys one-on-one sessions with a coach cheering you on, you might like Coach.me. Heroic is fantastic for DIY development, but Coach.me gives you an actual person to guide you.

Just a heads up though, your own coach does come with a price tag. But if you feel this personal touch is the key to unlocking your potential, it might just be worth the investment.

2. Way of Life

If numbers and graphs are your jam, you’re going to love Way of Life. It’s all about tracking your habits and giving you a detailed look at your progress.

Sure, it doesn’t have the huge library of content that Heroic does, but if you’re the type who loves crunching numbers and spotting trends in your personal growth, this app could be your new best friend.

3. Habit Bull

Habit Bull is all about community support, and even though Heroic has its own social platform too, Habit Bull keeps it sweet and simple. Here the focus is on tracking your habits and getting support from your peers.

It might not have the volume of self-improvement content that Heroic does, but if you’re looking for a basic, easy-to-use tool with a supportive community, it could be just what you need. Simple, but powerful.

FAQs (Your Questions Answered)

Is the Heroic app worth it?

Absolutely! From our experience, it delivers real value in helping you build habits, find motivation, and grow personally.

It’s like having a pocket-sized personal development coach. But remember, it’s still a tool and it requires your active participation. The payoff? A more Heroic version of you.

Is the Heroic app free?

It does have a free version with limited access to some features. However, to unlock the full potential, including extensive content and premium features, a yearly subscription is required.

It’s an investment in yourself that we found to be worth every penny (or in our case, missed coffee).

Who is the CEO of the Heroic app?

Brian Johnson CEO of Heroic and creator or PhilosopherNotes

The CEO of the Heroic Public Benefit Corporation is Brian Johnson. Not only is he the brains behind the development, but he’s also a philosopher and teacher at heart.

You’ll often see him sharing wisdom, facilitating classes, and delivering a ton of content on the app, making it a very personal experience.

What is Optimize by Heroic?

Optimize was the precursor to Heroic, serving up big ideas from the world’s best books in digestible, quick-to-read chunks to help users optimize their lives. Now, as Heroic, all that wisdom is also included within the new Heroic platform.

What is the Heroic Mastery Series?

Brian Johnson has distilled the best wisdom and biggest ideas from the extensive Heroic Wisdom library into one coherent, life-changing program.

As part of the coaching program, the Mastery Series comprises various modules that teach the Heroic Coach protocol. These modules are rolled out across a 300-day program. It’s a comprehensive guide to becoming your most heroic self.

Try Heroic for free and get access to the ENTIRE Mastery Series today!

What is Heroic Coach?

Heroic Coach is a scientifically validated 300-day program to activate your Heroic potential WHILE learning how to empower *others* to do the same so we can change the world together—starting with you and me and all of us—TODAY.

Read our review to learn more about it.