Heard app gains users as domestic abuse checks rise
Thu, 14th May 2026 (Today)
Heard said its relationship abuse recognition app is gaining users in Australia and the United States, recording 1,500 organic downloads in April. More than 26% of users moved to paid plans.
The Brisbane-based developer said the figures reflect demand from people trying to identify early signs of emotional and psychological abuse before approaching formal support services.
Launched in December, Heard is aimed at people who suspect something is wrong in a relationship but may not yet describe their experience as abuse. The app offers private, self-guided prompts to help users reflect on patterns of behaviour and document their experiences.
"Most people don't begin their healing journey with a well-defined label or idea of what might be wrong in a relationship, they begin with doubt. What we're seeing is more people turning to Heard earlier, using it to understand what they're feeling and rebuild trust in their own instincts," said Georgia Kinchin, founder and chief executive officer of Heard.
Heard is positioning the product around a gap between early concern and formal intervention. In Australia, an estimated 4.2 million adults have experienced partner violence or abuse since the age of 15, while about 2.3 million people are affected by domestic and family violence each year, according to figures it cited.
Support services also remain under strain in Australia, where the domestic violence sector estimates it needs about AUD $1 billion a year to meet demand. Heard also pointed to broader growth in mental health spending, citing forecasts that place the Australian mental health market at USD $35.7 billion by 2033, up from USD $8.96 billion in 2024.
US expansion
Heard is also targeting the United States, where intimate partner violence affects about 10 million people each year, based on data it cited from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The same data shows more than 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced psychological aggression.
The company argued that many people struggle first with recognising abusive behaviour rather than finding services. It cited industry data showing the US crisis intervention and family counselling market generated USD $68.9 billion in revenue in 2024.
Alongside user growth, Heard is introducing technical changes based on feedback and in-app behaviour. The updates focus on pattern recognition tools, guided reflection features, and prompts designed to improve safety and clarity.
The changes are intended to help users identify recurring behaviour, reflect on their experiences, and decide whether a relationship may be abusive. That approach places Heard among a growing group of digital mental health products targeting earlier stages of need rather than crisis response.
Advisory board
As the platform grows, Heard is expanding its advisory network. It has added Povel Torudd, a communications adviser and executive coach, and Samantha Jade, a domestic violence advocate and survivor linked to one of Australia's first high-profile coercive control cases.
They join Professor Anastasia Powell and Simone O'Brien, who were already advising the business. Heard said Powell is taking a deeper role in shaping how users interpret patterns of behaviour within the app, while O'Brien has supported the platform as an ambassador since launch.
Founded with funding from Kinchin, Heard said it is now in discussions with potential investors as management seeks backing for product development and wider international access.
Heard did not disclose revenue, but said it has established early traction and paid usage in both Australia and the United States. It also pointed to broader investor interest in the category, with the global mental health apps market forecast to grow from USD $7.7 billion in 2025 to USD $26.5 billion by 2033.
The growth figures suggest specialist apps are drawing interest from consumers seeking private, self-directed tools in sensitive areas of health and wellbeing. For Heard, the question is whether early uptake can translate into a lasting business while operating close to formal health, counselling, and domestic violence support systems.