From tracking your menstrual cycle to trying to conceive a baby, reproductive health encompasses so much. And there are so many apps out there that cater to what women need.
Ladies and others who experience menstruation – this article is for you! We’ve gone ahead and searched through some of the best Apple Watch apps for tracking your period or ovulation cycles.
All of the apps we reviewed are free to download, but some offer in-app purchases and subscription services. We’ll break down what’s free and what’s not.
Keep reading to see our recommendations.
Contents
Suggested reading:
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- Best Apple Watch complications for tracking calories or macros
- Reviewing Lumen’s personal metabolism tracker as a vegan
Use your Apple Watch’s Cycle Tracking app
If you were not aware that Apple has a Cycle Tracking app, well, now you know. The Cycle Tracking app is only available on the Apple Watch, so no iPhone app. But it does pair with the Apple Health app.
The Apple Watch app is very simple, you can do all the basics like tracking your period, symptoms, and spotting. It also offers predictions for your next start date and displays your last period date.
The Cycle Tracking watch face complication is just the icon that serves as a shortcut to the app.
If you don’t want to download an additional app, then you could always use this one. But Apple’s take on this leaves a lot left to be desired. Plus, the apps we mention in this article are much better.
Track ovulation with your Apple Watch (Series 8 and above or Ultra)
If you own an Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Ultra, the watch tracks your wrist temperature data to estimate the likely day of ovulation after it has occurred and helps improve period predictions.
To use this feature:
- Set up and turn on on Cycle Tracking with fertility predictions enabled and do not log ongoing cycle factors.
- Turn on sleep tracking and use a Sleep Focus. Then, wear your Apple Watch to sleep each night with Sleep Focus enabled.
When an estimate of when you likely ovulated is available, you receive a notification on your Apple Watch or iPhone.
In the Health app on iPhone or Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch, your ovulation estimate appears as a light purple oval in your fertile window.
Clue
Clue is primarily a period tracking app for your iPhone and Apple Watch. The free version of the app offers basic features like cycle and symptom tracking. You also get access to a few additional resources.
The Apple Watch app is very limited. It only shows you your cycle history. So when you first join and don’t add all of your data right away, you won’t see much.
The only issue is that the Apple Watch app can be a little glitchy at times and there is no way to sync it in the iPhone app. There is also no complication available.
Clue Plus
Clue Plus is the additional subscription service that Clue offers. It costs $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
Basically, with Clue Plus you get access to more analysis of your data, reproductive health articles, monthly emails, pregnancy tracking, and more.
If you want to give it a try, you can get a free one-week trial when you select to subscribe for a year.
Glow
Glow, on the other hand, can track your period, fertility, and pregnancy. So it is a great option for everyone’s needs. They also have a variety of family planning apps available too.
You can track a variety of symptoms and other health-related information in the app. The app also gives you some analysis based on the information you input.
It will also calculate your potential phases and fertility levels each day. There are also some additional resources available, meditations, and groups you can join. They also have a Wishlist tab for shopping for any things you may need.
The only con for the free version is the overload of ads and sponsored content in the app.
If you are ever listening to something while you open the app, whatever you are listening to will automatically shut off so one of the videos in their app can play. Also, be prepared to be bombarded with notifications.
Their Apple Watch app shares your current fertility level as well as the dates for your next period and fertile days.
The only issue is that the app can be a little glitchy at times and there is no way to sync it in the app. There also is no complication available.
Glow Premium
Glow Premium is the additional subscription service that Glow offers. It costs $7.99 per month, $35.99 per year, or $99.99 for a lifetime membership.
With Glow Premium you get unlimited access to additional resources, more advanced features, and extra analysis reports. The big pro is that Premium removes ads.
If you want to give it a try, you can get a free one-week trial when you select to subscribe for a year.
If you do not want to pay for the annual subscription, just make sure to cancel the subscription in your Apple Subscriptions settings before the trial ends.
Flo
Flo is very similar to Glow. The app can track your period, fertility, and pregnancy. When you first sign up, you’ll have to answer their questions about your reproductive goals and health information.
In the free version of the app, you can log a variety of symptoms and you can get minimal insights about them. There also is a social community aspect.
Their Apple Watch app is one of the better options. It tells you how many days until your next period. Plus you can track symptoms and your water intake straight from the watch.
Flo also has two options for a watch face complication! In the big summary section, you can have a countdown for your next period date. You can also use the miniature icon for this too!
Flo Premium
Flo Premium is the additional subscription service that Flo offers. It costs $7.99 per month or $35.99 per year.
With premium, you get access to articles, a virtual health assistant, video courses, customization options, and more.
If you want to give it a try, you can get a free one-week trial. You just have to enable it in the app.
Period Tracker Period Calendar
While the name could use some work, the Period Tracker Period Calendar app is a great option. In the app, you can track your period, conceiving options, and pregnancy.
You can also keep track of symptoms and keep a diary log. There is also a self-care tab that has a variety of resources for you. However, not all are available for free users.
But you can still browse through relief suggestions, workouts, skincare tips, meditations, stretches, and more. There is also a section where you can learn how to give yourself an at-home breast exam.
The Apple Watch app offers reminders for your period, taking your birth control, and intaking water. The only issue is that the app can be a little glitchy at times and there is no way to sync it in the app.
There is one watch face complication for this app. It goes in the big summary section. However, with the app’s many glitches, it’s hard to say what it does. Every time I added it, nothing would appear.
On the plus side, it does act as a shortcut.
Period Tracker Period Calendar Premium
Period Tracker Period Calendar Premium is the additional subscription service that the app offers. It costs $49.99 per year.
With premium, you get full access to their various self-care resources, themes for the app, ad removal, and more.
If you want to give it a try, you can get a free one-week trial in the app.
Cycles
Cyles is primarily a period tracking app. The app is very appealing visually. It uses a simple, circular graphic to give its users details about their current menstrual cycle.
The infographic is really easy to read and does not overwhelm you with information. It calculates which stage of your cycle you could be in, like PMS, period, or fertile.
Besides the graphic, you also have options to track additional information like any symptoms, moods, sexual activity, pill intake, and more. You can also set reminders and even share this data with your partner!
Their Apple Watch app is very similar to its iPhone counterpart. It shows that same circular infographic.
The Cycles app does offer two options for Apple Watch complications. You can choose from the summary one or the icon one.
The summary watch face complication gives you a summary of your current cycle with predictive dates. The icon complication displays the current number of your cycle.
Cycles Premium
Cycles Premium is the additional subscription service that the app offers. It costs $29.99 per year or $4.99 per month.
With premium, you get access to advanced stats and personalized insights. If you want to give it a try, you can get a free one-week trial in the app.
Period Tracker
Period Tracker is another great option for a period tracking app. While the app’s name makes it seem like that’s all it does that’s not the case. You can also use it for trying to conceive or your pregnancy.
The app is very simple, there are no extra bells and whistles. You can track your cycle and symptoms. But the design of the app is visually appealing, there are lots of flowers and bright colors.
There are some ads in the free version, but they’re not very noticeable.
The Apple Watch app is very simple as well. You can view a countdown for your next start date and also track symptoms straight from the watch. There is no watch face complication.
Period Tracker Premium
Period Tracker Premium is the additional subscription service that the app offers. It costs $9.99 per year.
With premium, you get access to advanced symptom tracking, charting, health tracking, challenges, community message boards, and their entire e-book library. Premium also removes the ads in the app.
Along with all those features, premium users also get a bi-weekly e-magazine emailed to them.
Final thoughts
For me, tracking my cycle has always been important. It can be hard to keep track of it all, and these apps make it so much easier.
I’ve been using Period Tracker ever since I got my first iPhone. But after trying out these other apps, I’m impressed with how far these apps have come since their introduction.
After trying Flo and Cycles, I’ve been thinking of switching to one of those instead since they offer so much more resources and features!
I didn’t enjoy the Clue, Glow, or Period Tracker Period Calendar apps. I found both of their Apple Watch apps to be very glitchy. I had to reinstall them several times just to get them to function on my end.
For subscription services, I think Flo and Cycles have the best premium options. You seem to get a lot out of the price. If you do try any free trials and do not want to continue the subscription make sure to cancel it.
Otherwise, you will typically have to pay for the annual subscription. Just make sure to cancel the subscription in your Apple Subscriptions settings before the trial ends.
I also gave Apple’s version of their cycle tracking app a try, and honestly, it doesn’t work very well. I’ve had several issues trying to track my information and it just never seemed accurate for me.
If you have any tips or recommendations of apps for tracking your period or ovulation, let us know!
