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A Try Dry alternative for the US: Dry January in American drinks
Try Dry is free, thoughtful and made by the charity that started Dry January. It’s also very British: it counts in UK units and rewards you against UK guidelines. If you’re in the US, that’s workable, but there’s a simpler way.
I make DryPage, so read this as an honest pitch rather than a neutral review. Facts about other apps come from their App Store listings and official pages as of October 2026. Prices and features change — check the store before you subscribe.
What Try Dry does well
Try Dry is made and paid for by Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind Dry January. It’s available on the US App Store, rated 4.8 from about 3,000 ratings, and completely free with no ads. It offers:
- a units calendar showing dry days and drinking days,
- current and best dry streaks, goals and badges,
- money and calories saved,
- sleep, energy, mood and craving trackers and a notes section,
- planned drinking for days you choose to drink, and a free coaching email programme.
You need to create an account to use it. If you’re in the UK, it’s hard to beat for free.
UK units vs US standard drinks
Try Dry tracks units, and its moderation badges follow the UK guideline of no more than 14 units a week. A UK unit is 8 grams of pure alcohol. A US standard drink is 14 grams — so one American drink is about 1.75 UK units.
| Drink | US standard drinks | UK units |
|---|---|---|
| 12 oz can of beer, 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 16 oz craft IPA, 7% | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| 5 oz glass of wine, 12% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 1.5 oz shot of spirits, 40% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 750 ml bottle of wine, 13% | 5.5 | 9.8 |
None of that is a problem for a dry month — zero is zero in any unit. It matters on the days you do drink, and in February, when you compare your week with US guidance that’s written in drinks, not units. You can convert anything with our standard drink calculator.
Try Dry vs DryPage
| Try Dry | DryPage | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Alcohol Change UK (charity) | An independent developer (me) |
| Counts | UK units, calories, money | Drinks per day, as you count them; money saved |
| Account | Required | None |
| Extras | Mood, sleep, energy and craving trackers; coaching emails; quiz | Home screen widget, private notes, year view, shareable images |
| After a drinking day | Calendar keeps it; current streak restarts, best streak stays | Calendar keeps it; dry-day count and % stay; streak restarts |
| Price | Free, no ads | Free to start; Premium $1.99/week, $14.99/year or $49.99 lifetime |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android | iPhone (iOS 17.2+), Apple silicon Mac |
Honest summary: Try Dry has more features and costs nothing. DryPage is simpler: you count drinks the way Americans already count them — a can, a glass, a shot — with nothing to sign up for, and the whole month stays visible as a tear-off calendar. Your log stays on your phone and works offline.
The US numbers worth knowing
- One US standard drink = 14 g of alcohol: 12 oz of 5% beer, 5 oz of 12% wine or 1.5 oz of 40% spirits.
- NIAAA low-risk levels: for men, no more than 4 drinks on any day and 14 a week; for women, no more than 3 on any day and 7 a week.
- The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans no longer give a daily number and simply advise drinking less for better health.
More detail in what is a standard drink and how many drinks a week is too many. For the month itself, start with our Dry January guide or compare more options in the best Dry January apps.
If you drink heavily every day, talk to a doctor before stopping suddenly. See our help page for US and international support services.
Frequently asked questions
Is Try Dry available in the US?
Yes. Try Dry is on the US App Store and Google Play, free with no ads. It is built around UK units and UK drinking guidelines.
How many UK units are in a US standard drink?
About 1.75. A US standard drink contains 14 g of alcohol and a UK unit contains 8 g.
Is there a Dry January app without an account?
Yes. DryPage needs no account and keeps your log on your iPhone. Try Dry requires an account.
Is Dry January a thing in the US?
Yes. The campaign started in the UK in 2013, but plenty of people in the US take part on their own, often with an app or a printable calendar.
Sources
- TRY DRY: The Dry January app — App Store
- Alcohol Change UK — Try Dry: the app for the Dry January challenge and beyond
- The Drink Less Method — Try Dry app review
- NIAAA — What is a standard drink?
- NIAAA — Rethinking Drinking
- NHS — Alcohol units
- DryPage: Sober Alcohol Tracker — App Store
This article is general information, not medical advice. See our disclaimer and help resources.