Period tracking apps have revolutionized how women manage their reproductive health, offering insights that go far beyond just marking menstrual dates. These apps not only help monitor cycles but also track fertility windows, predict PMS, record moods and symptoms, and even provide pregnancy or contraception support. With such a wide range of apps available today, finding the right one for your specific needs can be challenging.
This guide dives deep into the best period tracking apps in 2024, providing an in-depth comparison and helping you decide which app suits your lifestyle. We’ll explore the key features of each app, who they’re best for, and offer tips on how to make the most of these digital tools. Plus, I’ll share my personal experience with Clue, the app I’ve been using for years, and how it’s helped my friends as well.
1. Clue: Best Overall for Science-Based Tracking
Overview:
Clue is hands-down my favorite period tracking app. I’ve been using it for years and find it to be the most reliable and insightful tracker out there. Clue is well-known for its clean, neutral design, free of stereotypical “feminine” imagery, and for its dedication to science. Its predictions are based on robust research, and the app’s layout is designed to make it easy to track and understand your body’s patterns.
Personally, I’ve recommended Clue to several of my friends, and they’ve all come back raving about how easy it is to use and how much they love it too. The app strikes a balance between simplicity and deep insights, making it perfect for users at all levels—whether you’re just starting to track your cycle or are looking for detailed symptom analysis.
Key Features:
- Detailed Cycle Predictions: Clue offers highly accurate predictions for your period, fertile window, and PMS, all based on the data you input.
- Symptom and Health Tracking: You can log more than 30 different health categories, including pain, emotions, sleep, and energy levels. This helps Clue offer tailored advice about what to expect during each phase of your cycle.
- Science-Based Insights: Clue is unique in that it offers well-researched articles and tips, helping you understand your body’s hormonal changes, reproductive health, and overall well-being.
- Privacy and Security: Given the growing concerns around data privacy in health apps, Clue has a transparent privacy policy and ensures that user data isn’t sold to third parties.
- Fertility and Birth Control Features: Whether you’re trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy, Clue’s fertility tracking, paired with tools like basal body temperature monitoring, makes it a robust option for family planning.
Why I Love It:
One of the reasons I chose Clue is because it doesn’t fall into the trap of overly “feminine” designs that can sometimes trivialize the serious and scientific nature of period tracking. It treats reproductive health with the respect it deserves. Moreover, the insights it provides have helped me plan around my cycle, from work productivity to managing PMS symptoms.
Who It’s For:
- Data-driven users who value scientific accuracy and privacy.
- Women trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy, thanks to its detailed fertility tracking.
- Those looking for an inclusive, non-gendered app that focuses on health rather than stereotypical design.
2. Flo: Best for Fertility and Pregnancy Tracking
Overview:
Flo is one of the most popular period tracking apps, with millions of users worldwide. It’s especially beloved for its fertility and pregnancy tracking features, which make it a go-to app for women trying to conceive. The app uses advanced AI to improve its predictions over time, giving users a highly personalized experience.
Key Features:
- AI-Powered Predictions: Flo learns from your data and tailors its cycle and ovulation predictions based on your personal patterns. Over time, it becomes more accurate and insightful.
- Health and Symptom Logging: Flo allows users to log a wide range of symptoms, from mood and pain to weight and physical activity, offering personalized insights on your health.
- Pregnancy Mode: Once you switch to pregnancy mode, the app transforms into a tool that tracks fetal development, symptoms, and daily health tips throughout your pregnancy.
- Community Support: Flo includes a community feature, where users can discuss reproductive health topics in an anonymous, safe space. You can also read expert articles and participate in discussions.
- Privacy Focus: In response to privacy concerns, Flo introduced an anonymous mode, allowing users to utilize the app’s features without linking personal data.
Why You Might Love It:
Flo’s ability to switch from period tracking to pregnancy mode seamlessly makes it a highly versatile tool. If you’re planning a family or already pregnant, Flo has features designed to support you through each stage. Its strong community support is also beneficial for users who appreciate a shared space to discuss sensitive topics.
Who It’s For:
- Women planning for pregnancy or those who want comprehensive period and pregnancy tracking in one app.
- Users who prefer AI-powered, personalized insights into their reproductive health.
- Those who value privacy improvements like Flo’s anonymous mode, making it a safer choice for tracking sensitive health data.
3. Natural Cycles: Best for Contraceptive Tracking
Overview:
Natural Cycles is the first FDA-approved app for use as a contraceptive. It offers a hormone-free method for preventing pregnancy by using the fertility awareness method (FAM). By tracking basal body temperature (BBT), it provides highly accurate predictions about when you’re fertile and when you’re not, making it an excellent choice for women seeking a natural approach to contraception.
Key Features:
- Fertility Awareness Method: Natural Cycles uses BBT and other data points to predict when you’re ovulating and which days you’re most likely to conceive.
- FDA Approved: As a certified digital contraceptive, Natural Cycles is a scientifically validated option for women looking for alternatives to hormonal birth control.
- Wearable Integration: The app integrates with wearables like the Oura Ring, so you don’t have to manually log your BBT every morning. This makes it more convenient to track your cycle without constantly inputting data.
- Conception Mode: While it’s primarily used for birth control, Natural Cycles can also switch modes if you’re trying to conceive.
Why You Might Love It:
Natural Cycles is perfect for women who are wary of using hormones for contraception but still want a reliable, science-backed method. The integration with wearables also makes it a more effortless way to keep track of your fertility signs.
Who It’s For:
- Women seeking a natural contraceptive method without the side effects of hormonal birth control.
- Fertility awareness practitioners who prefer digital support to enhance their tracking accuracy.
- Those looking for a certified, FDA-approved app to manage their reproductive health.
4. Glow: Best for Trying to Conceive (TTC)
Overview:
Glow stands out as one of the best apps for women who are actively trying to conceive (TTC). It offers an incredibly detailed fertility tracking system, including options to log cervical mucus, BBT, and ovulation test results. Beyond this, Glow provides an extensive community and support network for women dealing with infertility or going through fertility treatments.
Key Features:
- Advanced Fertility Tracking: Glow allows users to track multiple fertility indicators, including cervical mucus, BBT, ovulation, and more. It even provides tips based on your logged data to help optimize your chances of conception.
- Partner App: Glow includes a partner feature, allowing couples to work together on family planning and keep each other informed of key fertility windows.
- Community and Support: Glow’s extensive community forums are a source of support for women in different stages of their fertility journey, whether TTC, going through IVF, or dealing with loss.
- Data Syncing and Exporting: Glow allows you to sync your health data with other apps and export it to share with healthcare providers, making it easier to communicate your fertility history.
Why You Might Love It:
Glow is more than just a fertility app—it’s a platform designed to support women through every stage of trying to conceive. If you want to feel supported and informed throughout your fertility journey, Glow’s community and advanced tracking features make it a fantastic choice.
Who It’s For:
- Couples actively trying to conceive who need detailed fertility tracking and support.
- Women undergoing fertility treatments who want to track their progress and connect with others in similar situations.
- Anyone who values a strong community aspect during a challenging time like infertility.
5. Ovia: Best for Family Planning and Parenting
Overview:
Ovia is a comprehensive reproductive health platform that goes beyond period and fertility tracking. It’s designed for women who want to track their reproductive health from conception all the way through to parenting, offering a seamless transition from TTC to pregnancy to baby care.
Key Features:
- Multiple Apps for Each Stage: Ovia offers separate apps for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting, each tailored to the user’s specific stage of family planning.
- Fertility and Pregnancy Support: The fertility tracking is comprehensive, with options to log basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and ovulation tests. During pregnancy, the app provides daily updates on fetal development and helpful tips for each trimester.
- Parenting Mode: Once your baby is born, Ovia continues to support you by offering tools for tracking developmental milestones, growth, and baby’s health.
- Personalized Health Insights: Ovia offers personalized health recommendations based on your logged data, helping you manage your reproductive health and optimize fertility.
- Employer and Insurance Programs: Ovia partners with employers and health insurance providers to offer additional resources, making it a
great app for users with access to these programs.
Why You Might Love It:
Ovia’s ability to transition smoothly from fertility tracking to pregnancy and into parenting makes it a one-stop-shop for family planning. It’s perfect for those who want a long-term reproductive health tool that can evolve as their needs change.
Who It’s For:
- Women looking for a long-term reproductive health app that covers everything from fertility to parenting.
- Couples who want detailed fertility tracking with the option to continue using the app during pregnancy and after the baby is born.
- Parents looking for an app that tracks baby’s health and milestones during the first years of life.
6. MyFlo: Best for Symptom and Hormone Tracking
Overview:
MyFlo is a period tracking app created by women’s hormone expert Alisa Vitti. It focuses not only on tracking your menstrual cycle but also on improving hormonal balance through lifestyle and dietary recommendations. MyFlo is unique in that it provides suggestions on how to reduce PMS and other symptoms by adjusting your habits and routines to sync with your cycle.
Key Features:
- Cycle-Syncing Tips: MyFlo offers insights into how your hormones are affecting your energy, mood, and productivity. It provides personalized recommendations for diet, exercise, and work tasks based on which phase of your cycle you’re in.
- Symptom Management: If you’re someone who struggles with chronic menstrual symptoms like cramps or fatigue, MyFlo provides actionable advice on how to alleviate them through natural remedies and lifestyle changes.
- Menstrual Health Education: MyFlo educates users about the four phases of the menstrual cycle and offers tips to manage each phase effectively.
Why You Might Love It:
If you’re interested in optimizing your life based on your cycle and want to reduce symptoms like PMS or hormonal imbalances naturally, MyFlo offers practical advice and actionable tips to improve your quality of life.
Who It’s For:
- Women experiencing chronic menstrual symptoms who want a more natural, lifestyle-based approach to managing their cycles.
- Users who are interested in cycle-syncing, adjusting their habits, diet, and exercise based on hormonal changes throughout the month.
- Those who want to learn more about their hormonal health and how to improve it.
7. Kindara: Best for Advanced Fertility Tracking
Overview:
Kindara is designed for women who want serious control over their fertility tracking. It’s ideal for users who are familiar with the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) or Natural Family Planning (NFP) and want a powerful tool to log basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and other key fertility indicators.
Key Features:
- Basal Body Temperature and Fertility Tracking: Kindara allows users to log BBT, cervical mucus, menstruation, and intercourse to track fertility with precision.
- Integration with Wink Thermometer: The app integrates with its proprietary Wink thermometer for automatic, accurate BBT tracking.
- Customizable Tracking Fields: Users can add custom fields to track anything from supplements to specific symptoms, making it a highly flexible tool.
- Educational Support: Kindara offers educational resources to help users better understand fertility charts and optimize their chances of conception.
Why You Might Love It:
Kindara is perfect for those who are committed to charting their fertility closely. It’s also one of the most customizable period tracking apps available, allowing users to tailor the experience to their specific fertility needs.
Who It’s For:
- Advanced fertility trackers who want detailed, customizable charting tools.
- Women practicing FAM or NFP who need an app that offers precision and flexibility.
- Those who prefer an app with a community aspect where they can share charts and advice with others.
Comparison of Clue vs. Flo: The Two Titans of Period Tracking
Both Clue and Flo are excellent all-rounders for period tracking, but they differ in key areas.
Clue excels in its clean, data-driven approach. It avoids gendered designs and offers in-depth tracking with a strong focus on scientific accuracy. The app is great for users who prioritize privacy and detailed, symptom-based insights. It’s also a favorite for those seeking an inclusive app that focuses on health rather than aesthetics.
On the other hand, Flo has a broader appeal with its AI-powered predictions and extensive community features. It’s particularly useful for women who are trying to conceive or manage pregnancy, offering a more personalized experience through its health assistant and community forums. Flo also integrates well with other health apps, providing a holistic approach to tracking wellness.
In short:
- Choose Clue if you want a privacy-focused, data-driven app with science at its core.
- Choose Flo if you prefer an app with AI-powered insights, strong community support, and comprehensive pregnancy tracking.
Using Data from Period Tracking Apps to Improve Wellness
The data you collect from these apps can significantly improve your understanding of your body and overall well-being. Here are a few tips on how to use your tracking data:
- Cycle-Syncing Your Life: Many apps, like MyFlo, provide insights into how different phases of your cycle affect mood, energy, and productivity. Use these insights to plan your month—schedule high-energy tasks for the follicular phase and rest during the luteal phase when fatigue is common.
- Optimizing Workouts and Diet: Apps that offer symptom logging, such as Clue and Flo, can help you adjust your workouts and diet based on hormonal fluctuations. For example, you might find that you’re stronger and more energetic in the first half of your cycle, so that’s the best time for intense workouts.
- Managing Symptoms: By tracking symptoms like cramps, bloating, and mood changes, you can better understand triggers and implement natural remedies like dietary changes or supplements to alleviate them. Apps like MyFlo offer personalized tips to help with symptom management.
- Fertility Awareness: Whether you’re trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy, apps like Natural Cycles and Glow can help you better understand your fertility patterns, making family planning easier and more effective.
- Talking to Healthcare Providers: Many apps allow you to export your data and share it with healthcare providers, offering them a detailed look at your reproductive health. This can be useful for identifying patterns, managing conditions like PCOS, or optimizing fertility treatments.
Conclusion: Find the Right App for Your Needs
Ultimately, the best period tracking app is one that aligns with your specific needs. Clue and Flo stand out for their versatility and accuracy, but other apps like Natural Cycles and MyFlo offer specialized features for those focusing on contraception or hormone balancing. Whether you’re looking for a simple period tracker, fertility insights, or holistic health tips, there’s an app out there for you.
Taking control of your menstrual health can lead to better self-awareness, improved wellness, and a deeper connection to your body. Start tracking, experiment with the features, and discover how much these apps can empower you on your health journey.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this guide on the best period tracking apps helpful and informative. If you have any thoughts, experiences, or additional tips to share, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you! Until next time, take care and stay empowered!
