The Best Period Tracker Apps to Stay On Top of Your Cycle
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At one point or another, you've likely used an app to log your daily steps, the calories you burned during an intense HIIT workout, or the amount of water you've sipped throughout the day. In fact, roughly one-third of Americans currently track their health statistics on a phone or tablet app or have done so in the past, according to a 2019 Gallup survey. But if you aren't doing the same with your period, you could likely be dealing with last-minute tampon runs or surprise period leaks.
Tracking your menstrual cycle and the symptoms that come with it can give you an idea of when your next period might start, when you're most likely to get pregnant, and how you might feel on those days, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH). But these apps can be particularly useful if you have an irregular period or experience uncomfortable side effects (think: heavy cramping or bleeding), as you'll be able to share the app's data with your health care provider to look into potential causes and find treatment options that work best for you, per the OWH.
While a physical or digital calendar to record and predict your period is fine and dandy, a digital app will help to keep an easily accessible record of your symptoms over time and keep this personal information under the security of technology in comparison to a piece of paper in your drawer. To start logging your menstrual cycle, free up some storage space on your phone and download these best period tracker apps.
The Best Period Tracker Apps
Best Period Tracker App Overall: Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker
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With nearly 784,000 reviews and a 4.8-star rating in the App Store, Flo is one of the most beloved period-tracking apps on the market. The app can record your cycle's start date and length, your flow level, and your PMS symptoms, and you can set up notifications that remind you when your period is expected to begin. Folks who are trying to get pregnant can also utilize the app's ovulation calculator, which shows you when you'll be most fertile, and those who are already expecting can use the pregnancy mode to calculate an estimated due date, set a countdown to the big day, and see imagery of the baby's growth each week.
Available in the App Store and on Google Play.
Best Period Tracker App for All Menstruators: Clue Period & Cycle Tracker
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With its gender-neutral language and color scheme, the Clue app is also one of the most inclusive options among its competitors. The app can record your period days, your flow intensity, the menstrual products and birth control method you use, and more than 30 symptoms. Plus, it can predict your bleeding days and ovulation days for your next three cycles — allowing you to plan an upcoming vacation for when Aunt Flo is least likely to visit. If you're always forgetting to take your birth control pill, set up custom notifications to ensure you never miss a dose.
Available in the App Store and on Google Play.
Best Period Tracker App for Preventing Pregnancy: Spot On Period Tracker
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Created by Planned Parenthood, the Spot On app works double duty as a menstrual cycle tracker and an education provider. Just as with others on the market, the app can record your period days, including your flow intensity, symptoms, and the activities you did while menstruating (think: exercise, sleep). But it stands out from the crowd by allowing you to log your contraceptives — whether it be the pill, patch, ring, shot, IUD, or another method — and track how frequently you use it, create reminders to take it or switch it out, and get tips on how to switch your birth control method. Plus, the app also features articles straight from Planned Parenthood experts that are sure to answer all your reproductive health Qs. Related: Annie Murphy of 'Schitt's Creek' Wants You to Consider — and Question — All Your Birth Control Options
Available in the App Store and on Google Play.
Best Period Tracker App to Log Your Sex Life: Eve Period Tracker
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Folks who are just as interested in tracking their sex lives as they are in tracking their periods will want to download this app. Like other period tracking apps, Eve can log your current period and symptoms, show your cycle history, and predict your upcoming period and when you'll be ovulating. You're also able to note when you got frisky with a partner, even getting as specific as the type of activities you performed (i.e. penetration with or without a condom, a makeout sesh, etc.). When you have questions about sex that you're too embarrassed to ask your friends, turn to the online community, where "nothing is off-limits," according to the company.
Available in the App Store and on Google Play.
The Best Period Tracker App for Getting Pregnant: Ovia Fertility & Cycle Tracker
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If getting pregnant is your main priority, download Ovia. The app can log basic metrics such as your average cycle length, period length, and top symptoms, but it offers even more features for those trying to conceive. Specifically, the app can record your basal body temperature (which can clue you in on when you're ovulating), cervical mucus' texture and color, cervical position, ovulation days, and the days you have sex. It can also predict the days you'll likely be most fertile, so you can plan out the best time to try to conceive. (When you're trying to get pregnant ASAP, put these expert-approved tips into action.)
Available in the App Store and on Google Play.
The Best Period Tracker App for Low-Key Logging: Life Period Tracker Calendar
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The Life Period Tracker app ditches the fancy designs and fertility-tracking features in favor of a simple, back-to-basics interface. The app can log your period days, symptoms, and flow level. It can also show a history of your cycle lengths and period lengths and create reminders of when to expect your period. Thanks to its no-frills appearance, you can comfortably open the app in public.
Available in the App Store.
The Best Period Tracker App for Couples: Cycles
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People who don't keep anything in their relationship a secret will want to download the Cycles app. The app allows you to share all the details of your cycle, including your period and ovulation days, with a partner, so they can offer "emotional support when you need it" and be more involved in pregnancy planning — if that's the goal, according to the company. Regardless, you'll be able to log your physical symptoms, mood, and sexual activity throughout your cycle and see predicted dates for future periods so you can plan your life accordingly.
Available in the App Store.
