1
Open the app
Tap once. A gentle breathing circle guides you through 8 seconds of warm contact.
8 Seconds Hug
One tap. 8 seconds. Every day.
Science-backed hug timer with streak tracking. No account. No data. Everything stays on your device.
How it works
2
Feel the vibration
A soft haptic pulse at 4 seconds and again when you’re done. No need to watch the screen.
3
Build the habit
Your streak grows from the day you start. No empty history. No judgment if you miss a day.
The science is real. The claims are honest.
Every claim in the app cites its source. No pseudoscience.
Oxytocin
Sustained physical contact stimulates the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone. A few seconds of warm pressure begin to trigger it.
Field, T. (2010). Dev Rev.
Cortisol reduction
People who hug more show lower cortisol levels after stressful situations.
Light et al. (2005). Biol Psychol.
Heart rate
Affectionate contact activates the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing heart rate in seconds.
Grewen et al. (2003). Behav Med.
Self-hug
Gentle, intentional self-contact can modulate emotional response. You don’t need another person to start.
Kirsch et al. (2018). NeuroImage.
What’s inside
8-second guided timer
Breathing animation and haptic feedback. No need to watch the screen.
Streak tracking
Starts from the day you install. No empty calendar mocking you.
Daily science cards
One card per day from our library of 8 research-backed facts about touch.
Gentle reminders
Set a notification at any time. Rotates through different messages. No guilt if you miss.
Spanish and English
Fully localized. Switches based on your device language.
No account. No data.
Everything stays on your device. Delete all data from settings anytime.
Private by design
8 Seconds Hug has no server, no account, and no analytics. Your hug history, streak, and settings live only on your device. We can’t see them. Nobody can.
- ✓No personal data collected
- ✓No account required
- ✓Works fully offline
Start with one hug.
8 seconds. That’s all it takes.