Gluvy
If you like the idea of the Koko Face Yoga app but want something different, our top pick is Gluvy: 229 guided face yoga video exercises with a countdown timer on every step, about 34 gua sha and massage courses, skincare lessons and guided breathing in one iPhone app, for $49.99 a year. Other options include Face Yoga Method if you want live classes, and Luvly if you use Android. Full disclosure: Gluvy wrote this page, and Gluvy is the app we make.
Everything here is based on each app’s public App Store listing or website, checked in October 2026. We did not run hands-on tests of the other apps and we don’t give any app ratings. Check the current listing before you subscribe.
Quick answer: Koko Face Yoga alternatives by need
The main difference between these apps is how you learn, so start with your preferred format.
- Best overall: Gluvy (iPhone). Press play and follow along: every exercise has its own video and a countdown timer on every step. Pick a focus and follow a 3-week plan of about 5–10 minutes a day, with about 34 gua sha and massage courses, skincare lessons and guided breathing included in the same subscription.
- You want live classes: Face Yoga Method, built around teacher Fumiko Takatsu.
- You use Android: Luvly, which is on iPhone and Android.
- You want a short starter course: FaceYogi, which builds a program from your answers.
- You don’t want to pay yet: free YouTube routines, including Koko Hayashi’s own tutorials.
For the wider category, see our guide to the best face yoga apps.
What the Koko Face Yoga app offers
Koko Face Yoga is a teacher-led app built on one person’s method.
The teacher is Koko Hayashi, a face yoga instructor, and the app is published by Mirai Clinical, her company. According to the Koko Face Yoga App Store listing (as of October 2026), the app includes:
- A daily face yoga course led by Koko, with exercises set out for each day.
- Face massage techniques alongside the exercises.
- Tongue-posture lessons and a checker, a photo-based tool for checking your tongue position (often called “mewing”).
- Asymmetry tracking, which uses photos to follow how your face looks over time.
- Free to try, with a US monthly subscription of $9.99 or a yearly subscription of $99.99.
If you’ve searched for “Koko Face Yoga Shark Tank”, that’s because Koko Hayashi has pitched on the show twice, first with Koko Face Yoga and later with Mirai Clinical, as Beauty Independent reported. Neither pitch ended in a deal.
Face yoga with Koko also exists outside the app. She has a face yoga video series on Alo’s Wellness Club, and a Tatler profile describes the free tutorials she shares on YouTube and the private sessions she offers.
Why people look for Koko Face Yoga alternatives
Most people who look around aren’t unhappy with face yoga; they want a different format, focus or price.
- Learning style. Some people prefer short, timed videos they can pick themselves over a single teacher’s daily course.
- Content mix. Koko’s app centres on face yoga, massage and face posture. If you also want dedicated gua sha courses, skincare lessons or guided breathing for winding down, Gluvy puts all of that in one app.
- Tongue posture. Some people are drawn to the mewing lessons; others aren’t interested. It helps to know that evidence that tongue posture reshapes an adult face or jawline is lacking. Keep any tongue or jaw practice relaxed, and if you have concerns about your bite, jaw or breathing, a dentist or orthodontist is the right person to ask.
- Price and billing. Koko’s US plans are $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year as of October 2026. Gluvy’s yearly plan is $49.99, half of Koko’s listed yearly price.
- Platform. We confirmed Koko Face Yoga on the App Store only. Android users should check Google Play.
As for Koko Face Yoga reviews: we don’t publish star ratings because they change often. Read the current reviews on the App Store listing, looking for comments on session length, teaching style and billing.
The Koko Face Yoga alternatives
Here is what each alternative offers and who it suits, based on public listings as of October 2026. Gluvy is our top recommendation.
1. Gluvy (our top pick)
Best for: anyone who wants clear, self-paced follow-along video, with face yoga, gua sha, skincare and relaxation together in one place.
Gluvy is the app we make, and it’s designed so you never have to guess what to do next. Instead of one teacher’s course, you get a library of 229 guided face yoga video exercises across 8 face areas, from forehead to neck. Every exercise has its own follow-along video and a countdown timer on every step, so you simply press play and copy along without counting holds or reps. You choose a focus and follow a 3-week plan of about 5–10 minutes a day.
- Gua sha and massage: about 34 gua sha and facial-massage video courses, one of the largest parts of the app. Our gua sha routine guide covers the basics.
- Skincare: skincare lessons and article courses on topics like retinol, serums and exfoliation.
- Relaxation: guided sessions including Mindful Breathing, Body Scan, Sleep Ritual and Stress Relief.
- Habit tools: morning and night routines, reminders and a progress journal with selfies, so you can see your own practice build up week by week.
- Face analysis: an AI face analysis gives you a starting point and suggests focus areas. It is not a diagnosis.
Why it stands out: a video and a timer for every single step; face yoga, a large gua sha library, skincare and breathing in one subscription; short 5–10 minute daily plans; one simple billing route through the App Store; and a yearly price that is half of Koko’s listed $99.99.
Good to know: Gluvy is iPhone only and is on-demand video rather than live classes.
Price (as of October 2026, US App Store, see pricing): free to download; Gluvy Pro is $7.99 a week or $49.99 a year. New users may see a one-time yearly offer of $39.99 in the app.
2. Face Yoga Method
Best for: people who want live classes.
The Face Yoga Method app is built around teacher Fumiko Takatsu. Its listing describes programs, live classes and a membership option.
Good to know: live classes run on a fixed schedule; prices aren’t clear from the listing summary.
Price (as of October 2026): free to download with in-app purchases. Check the listing for current membership prices.
3. Luvly
Best for: people who use Android.
Luvly, published by Gismart, describes face exercises and massages, personalised programs, skincare tools, breathing exercises, meal plans and an ingredient scanner. It’s available on iPhone and Android, and you can also subscribe on its website.
Good to know: there are three billing routes, so note where you subscribed. Our Luvly alternatives guide and Gluvy vs Luvly comparison go into detail.
Price (as of October 2026): free to download; check the listing for current plans.
4. FaceYogi
Best for: people who want a short starter course.
FaceYogi, published by Lollitech, describes personalised face exercise courses, including a 7-day program built around your concerns, plus facial massage.
Good to know: the listed $49.99 a quarter comes to about $200 over a year, compared with Gluvy’s $49.99 a year. See Gluvy vs FaceYogi for a side-by-side.
Price (as of October 2026): free to download; the US listing mentions plans such as $9.99 a week or $49.99 a quarter.
5. Free YouTube routines
Best for: trying face yoga before you pay for anything.
Plenty of teachers post free face yoga videos, including Koko Hayashi herself. They’re a way to find out whether you enjoy the practice, but you give up structure: no plan, no reminders and no timer, and quality and claims vary widely between channels. If you want a structured free start, our free 21-day face yoga challenge and free face yoga apps guide are good next steps.
Comparison table (data as of October 2026)
This table summarises each app’s public listing as of October 2026, with US App Store prices where shown.
| Option | Learning format | Gua sha / massage | Extras | Platforms checked | Price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gluvy (top pick) | Self-paced video for every exercise, timer on every step, 3-week plans | About 34 gua sha and massage courses | Skincare lessons, breathing and sleep sessions, selfie journal | iPhone only | Free download; $49.99/year or $7.99/week |
| Koko Face Yoga | Teacher-led daily course (Koko Hayashi) | Face massage | Tongue-posture lessons and checker, asymmetry tracking | iPhone (App Store) | Free to try; $9.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Face Yoga Method | Teacher-led programs and live classes | Check listing | Membership | iPhone (App Store) | Free download; check listing |
| Luvly | Personalised programs | Massages | Skincare tools, meal plans, ingredient scanner | iPhone, Android, web subscription | Free download; check listing |
| FaceYogi | Personalised short courses | Massage | Check listing | iPhone (App Store) | Free download; from $9.99/week or $49.99/quarter |
| Free YouTube routines | Self-directed | Varies | None | Any | Free |
“Platforms checked” means the store we confirmed. Some apps may also be on Google Play, so search there if you use Android.
Choosing by learning style
The format you enjoy is the one you’ll keep doing, so match the app to how you like to learn.
Self-paced with timers (our recommendation)
Choose self-paced video if you want to pick a focus area, press play and let a timer guide you through every hold and rep. That’s exactly how Gluvy works, and with plans of about 5–10 minutes a day it fits around mornings, lunch breaks or wind-down time. Start with something simple, like our 5-minute face yoga routine for beginners or the jawline exercises guide, to see how easy the format is to stick with.
Teacher-led, on demand
A teacher-led course gives you one person’s method at your own time. That’s Koko Face Yoga’s format, and Face Yoga Method’s programs work this way too.
Live teacher
Face Yoga Method is the option here that lists live classes, which run on a set schedule.
Mixed
You can combine formats: Gluvy for your daily routine, and a class or free video when you want something different. Keep the pressure gentle and stop any move that hurts. Check with a doctor or dentist first if you have jaw, neck or skin conditions, or recent facial procedures.
Whichever format you pick, keep your expectations realistic. The most-cited face yoga study (Alam et al., 2018) enrolled 27 women aged 40 to 65; 16 completed 20 weeks of exercise, and dermatologists rating photos saw improved upper and lower cheek fullness, but there was no control group. Larger controlled studies are needed. Our guide to whether face yoga works covers the evidence in more detail.
Try a self-paced routine with Gluvy
If you want a Koko Face Yoga alternative that’s simple to follow every day, Gluvy gives you 229 guided face yoga videos with a timer on every step, about 34 gua sha and massage courses, skincare lessons, and guided breathing, body scan, sleep and stress-relief sessions in one iPhone app, for $49.99 a year. See all features, check current prices, or download Gluvy and start your 3-week plan today. You can find more comparisons in our apps and alternatives hub.
Sources
- Koko Face Yoga, App Store listing (checked October 2026)
- Beauty Independent: Mirai Clinical founder Koko Hayashi on two Shark Tank appearances
- Alo Wellness Club: Face Yoga series with Koko Hayashi
- Tatler: Face yoga with Koko Hayashi
- App Store listings for Face Yoga Method, Luvly and FaceYogi (checked October 2026)
- Alam M, et al. Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging. JAMA Dermatology, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Koko Face Yoga app?
As of October 2026, the US App Store listing for Koko Face Yoga shows a monthly subscription of $9.99 and a yearly subscription of $99.99. For comparison, Gluvy Pro is $49.99 a year or $7.99 a week on the US App Store. Prices vary by country and can change, so check the current listing and the in-app price screen before you subscribe.
Is Koko Face Yoga free?
The app is free to download, and its App Store listing describes it as free to try. To keep using the full daily course you should expect to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription. Koko Hayashi has also shared free face yoga tutorials on YouTube.
What is the best alternative to Koko Face Yoga?
Our top recommendation is Gluvy (we make it). It gives you 229 guided face yoga video exercises with a countdown timer on every step, about 34 gua sha and massage courses, skincare lessons and guided breathing in one iPhone app, for $49.99 a year. Other options: Face Yoga Method lists live classes, and Luvly is available on Android.
Do any face yoga apps have live classes?
Yes. As of October 2026, the Face Yoga Method app listing describes live classes with its teacher-led programs. Gluvy is on-demand video instead, so you can press play and follow along at any time of day, with a timer guiding every step. Check each listing for current class schedules and what membership includes.
Was Koko Face Yoga on Shark Tank?
Yes. Koko Hayashi pitched Koko Face Yoga on Shark Tank and later returned with her company, Mirai Clinical, as the trade publication Beauty Independent reported. Neither pitch ended in a deal.
Does mewing or tongue posture change the shape of your face?
There is no good evidence that tongue posture or mewing reshapes an adult face or jawline. Keep any tongue or jaw practice relaxed and comfortable, and stop if it hurts. If you have concerns about your bite, jaw or breathing, talk to a dentist or orthodontist.
Practise this with Gluvy. Follow-along videos with a timer for every step. See everything in the Gluvy app.
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The team that builds Gluvy writes these guides from the app's own face yoga, gua sha and skincare courses. We are not doctors or dermatologists: articles are general wellness information, and we link to the research where it exists.
This article is general wellness information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or dermatologist if you have a skin, jaw or other medical condition.
