Choose WaterMinder if you want a long-established, cross-platform water tracker with a standalone Apple Watch app. Choose Hydration Hero if you drink a lot of coffee, tea or alcohol and want a tracker that doesn't count every drink as water, or if you've abandoned water apps before and need something more fun to stick with.
We make Hydration Hero, so read this with that in mind. Everything we say about WaterMinder comes from its own App Store listing.
WaterMinder: the established all-rounder
WaterMinder has been on the App Store since 2013 and is made by Funn Media. Its listing describes:
- a daily goal based on your body weight, or one you set yourself, with reminders to drink;
- a cross-platform app, including a standalone Apple Watch app (it's also on Google Play);
- home screen and lock screen widgets, Siri Shortcuts and Apple Health sync;
- challenges, sharing progress with friends, and 50+ characters that reflect your hydration;
- a free download with an auto-renewing subscription and a 7-day free trial.
It has a 4.6-star average from more than 1,300 ratings on the Australian App Store.
Hydration Hero: built around motivation and honest maths
Hydration Hero launched in 2024 and runs on iPhone and Apple Watch. Its listing describes:
- A full-body avatar you design, who reacts to every drink you log;
- drinks weighted for their real hydration effect, including the dehydrating effects of alcohol and caffeine, with your goal adjusting to what you've actually had;
- reminders at intervals you choose, personalised goals, streaks and badges;
- challenges with mates, plus habit challenges like quitting caffeine or cutting down on alcohol;
- custom drinks;
- a free download with optional in-app purchases.
On iPhone you can try it instantly as an App Clip, with nothing to install. It has a 5.0-star average on the Australian App Store, from a much smaller number of ratings.
Side by side
| WaterMinder | Hydration Hero | |
|---|---|---|
| On the App Store since | 2013 | 2024 |
| Platforms | iPhone, Apple Watch, Android | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Daily goal | Based on body weight, or set your own | Personalised, adjusts to what you drink |
| Coffee and alcohol | Not mentioned in its listing | Weighted by real hydration effect |
| Motivation | Challenges and 50+ characters | Customisable full-body avatar, streaks, badges, challenges |
| Social | Share progress with friends | Challenges with mates |
| Try before installing | No | Yes, App Clip |
| Price | Free, plus subscription (7-day trial) | Free, with optional in-app purchases |
From each app's App Store listing, checked October 2026. Apps change often, so check the current listing before you decide.
Why drink weighting matters
Most water trackers count volume: a long black and a glass of water get the same credit. But drinks don't all hydrate the same. A study that compared common drinks with water found milk was retained better than water, while alcohol suppresses the hormone that helps your kidneys hold on to water. If coffee or wine make up a real share of what you drink, a volume-only tracker can tell you you're doing fine when you're not. More in does coffee count as water?
Which should you choose?
- You use Android, or switch between platforms: WaterMinder.
- You want a proven app with a long track record: WaterMinder.
- You drink coffee, tea or alcohol and want honest numbers: Hydration Hero.
- You've given up on water apps before: try Hydration Hero's avatar and mate challenges.
- Not sure how much you need? Start with our water intake calculator.
Comparing more apps? See the best water tracker apps for iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hydration Hero better than WaterMinder?
It depends on what you need. WaterMinder is a long-established, cross-platform tracker with a standalone Apple Watch app, widgets, challenges and Apple Health sync. Hydration Hero is newer and focuses on motivation and accuracy: a customisable avatar that reacts to every drink, and drinks weighted by their real hydration effect, so coffee and alcohol don't count like water.
Does WaterMinder count coffee and alcohol differently?
WaterMinder's App Store listing doesn't mention weighting drinks by type. Hydration Hero's listing says it factors in the actual hydration impact of each drink, including the dehydrating effects of alcohol and caffeine.
Is WaterMinder on Android?
Yes. WaterMinder describes itself as a cross-platform water tracker and is on Google Play. Hydration Hero is on iPhone and Apple Watch only.
Can I try Hydration Hero without installing it?
Yes. On iPhone, Hydration Hero has an App Clip, a small version of the app that opens instantly with nothing to install.
Sources
- Hydration Hero: Water Reminder, App Store listing
- Water Tracker by WaterMinder, App Store listing
- Development of a beverage hydration index (Maughan et al., 2016), American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Water: Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand, NHMRC / Eat For Health
Last updated 7 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.