Tracking ovulation to get pregnant is serious business. Following the wrong information could mean a missed opportunity for pregnancy. With so many to choose from, which is the best one to use? For this guide, we review applications that mainly use algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) or calculations based on your cycle start and stop dates.
Educated Guess vs. Accurate Predication
Any application to predict fertility that is based on algorithms, AI or other types of calculations, rather than your biological signs, is predicting fertility using an educated guess based on statistical averages (either your averages or averages based on a general population). Even with the most advanced algorithms, if you aren’t using your own biological clues in conjunction with the apps, you may miss your specific fertile window.
Biological clues that can help pinpoint the fertile window include: cervical fluid, temperature and the luteinizing hormone detected via urine strips. If you chose not to manually record your biological signs (the majorit of the apps below allow for that data input), the apps in the guide can be a great way to help you record and keep track of your cycle and fertility data.
Google Play Rating: 4.5 - 93,686 votes - Free
Not available on iOS
Android Installs: 5-10 Million
Description: Not much is written about this app except that it tracks and predicts your period, ovulation and fertility.
What is Unique: this is listed as one of the apps out of 53 total, that a team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Setton, found to be accurate (source). Note: Dr. Setton’s team used the standard calculation to predict a woman’s ‘fertile window, which includes the day she is estimated to ovulate and the five days before ovulation, not individual biological clues.
Pros: Free version and easy to use
Cons: A lot of complaints about ads when using free version (paid version does not have ads) and some reports of back- up complications
Tracking Capabilities:
Other:
Cost: Free app with In-app Products available $4.49 - $64.99 per item
Google Play Rating: 4.1 - 1,016 votes - Free Android
iTunes Rating: 4.6 - 2,087 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 100,000 - 500,000
Description: Kindara offers an app women can use alone or for the next level up, with a basal body thermometer they make themselves called Wink. Kindara is for women who desire getting pregnant, to use the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), manage perimenopause symptoms, and/or learn if they have any health conditions like PCOS. Kindara is based FAM.
What is Unique: Unique to Kindara is that they allow for users to write notes about or delete a unique cycle in order to not impact the predictions. There is also an active, supportive and engaged community. For the premium app, you can track custom data and create private groups. There is also a thermometer you can buy that syncs with the Kindara app.
Pro: Kindara supports the Sympto-Thermal method and can be used for Natural Family Planning (NFP). It is a comprehensive app for women who use the FAM method and/or enjoy keeping track of and chart about their fertility and menstrual cycle symptoms.
Cons: Kindara is not for those who want a simple and easy to use App just to track their fertility.
Tracking Capabilities:
Other:
Cost:
Wink can be purchased for $129.00 www.kindara.com/wink.
Description:
Google Play Ratings: 4.6 - 53,169 votes - Free- Android
iTunes Rating: 4.7 - 13,372 reviews - Free - iOS
Android Installs: 1-5 Million
Description: Glow uses personalized data to help pinpoint the fertility cycle. Glow provides community and additional support for partners as well. Glow’s algorithm gets smarter over time.
What’s Unique: the app also engages men to log data about their health to help them take charge of their fertility as well with support. The man’s data can be linked to his partner’s data.
Pros: Many positive reviews. Intuitive and reports of many useful features
Cons: May take several cycles to be accurate, some reports of not enjoying the community and ads
Tracking Capabilities:
Other:
Cost: Free with the option of contributing to a mutual assistance program, which can be used towards fertility treatments if Glow doesn't help you conceive in 10 months. Premium features include comparative Insights, education, support. See below for cost of premium features:
Google Play Rating: 4.7 - 447,288 votes - Free Android
iTunes Rating: 4.8 - 2,837 reviews - Free - iOS
Android Installs: 10-50 Million
Description: Clue states that the more you use the app, the smarter the app gets. Similar to Glow, you can also track health trends including exercise and health logs.
What is Unique: Clue has been rated the top free period and ovulation tracker app by the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, a publication of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Pros: Majority positive reviews and works with irregular cycles
Cons: Some complaints about too many notifications, requests for more customizable options and a calendar view
Tracking:
Other:
Cost: Free. Subscription Information: In addition to the personalized insights you receive from the free version of Clue, you could get forecasts that predict when you might experience PMS, cramps and other patterns in your cycle with Clue Premium wh
Google Play Rating: 4.5 - 314,246 votes - Free
iTunes Rating: 4.7 - 1,866 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 10-50 million
Description: Period Tracker calculates the average of your past three months’ menstrual cycles. It only requires you to input the start and end of your period in order to provide predictions for the future. You can also add custom symptoms and moods. To forecast ovulation, Period Tracker calculates 14 days before the projected start date of one's next period. Period Tracker logs your dates and calculates the average of your past 3 months' menstrual cycles to predict the start date of your next period.
What is Unique: since they use the same mathematical equation as doctors to predict ovulation, this app was found to be one of the more accurate predictors by Dr. Setton’s team.
Pros: Mostly positive reviews. Free and not as many ads as other free versions, non-invasive
Cons: Flowery and pink design does not appeal to all women (but some like it), some logging issues for women with irregular cycles reported
Tracking:
Other:
Google Play Rating: 4.8 48,230 total Android
iTunes Rating: 4.7 - 3,285 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 1-5 Million
Description: Ovia uses a proprietary algorithm to track your cycle and predict ovulation dates and your fertile window. You’ll also find support for women with irregular periods and the ability to sync with Fitbit and Withings Fitness tracking devices. Ovia incorporates multiple fertility and key health indicators, like eating and sleeping habits, to predict ovulation.
What is Unique: Developed by Harvard scientists and one of the nation’s leading fertility experts. The company says its algorithm is based on data collected from millions of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, which it says is "the largest data set that's ever been collected on this population."
Pros: Mainly positive reviews. Useful education and health in general
Cons: Some issues reported on glitches and inaccuracy when compared to LH strips (but again - these are calculations based on averages, so all apps using averages may have occasional inaccuracy)
Tracking:
Other:
Cost: Free. Users can purchase a 99¢ upgrade, which includes personalized articles and extras, custom themes, and the ability to export data to Excel.
Google Play Rating: 4.6 - 4,200 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
iTunes Rating:4.5 - 1,902 votes - Free- Android
Android Installs: 100K-500K
Description: The Period Diary app tracks your period and ovulation window and offers to track your cycle, note your symptoms, and assist in planning for the future. Period Diary relies on two scientifically proven formulas to deliver you the most accurate predictions for your cycle. Reviews mainly positive but several suggestions to add a ‘pregnancy button’. Since that option is not available the app continues to remind you that your period is late.
What is Unique:Free from any hidden in-app purchases or ads
Pros: Good for irregular cycles, customer support and easy to use
Cons: Several requests for a way to input pregnancy because keeps sending a reminder to input data. Some occasional glitches reported.
Tracking:
Other:
Google Rating: 4.9 - 355,237 votes - Free Android
iTunes Rating: 4.8 - 148,076 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 10-50 million Android
Description: Flo uses artificial intelligence to make accurate and reliable predictions about menstruation and ovulation for regular and irregular cycles. You can schedule notifications to remind you of upcoming period and ovulation days and track other lifestyle details, like sleep duration, physical activity, and water consumption. Flo Period Tracker uses machine learning (AI) to predict menstruation and ovulation.
Pro: Reports of accurate period predictions, free and ad free.
Con: Similar to other apps, missing capability to input miscarriage or pregnancy
Tracking:
Costs: Free
Google Play Rating: 4.3 - 1,327 votes - Free Android
iTunes Rating: 4.3 - 24 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 100,000-500,000
Description: Dot utilizes a patent pending method called Dynamic Optimal Timing and uses an algorithm to show you if you are at low, medium or high risk for pregnancy on any given day. Dot may not be appropriate for you if you have significant variation in your cycle lengths (more than 10 days between your shortest and longest cycles) or if you have cycles that are regularly shorter than 20 days or longer than 40 days long. Rviews are mainly positive, especially regarding customer support.
What is Unique: Dot™ is based on a new family planning method called Dynamic Optimal Timing™, this patent pending approach enables you to plan or prevent pregnancy by tracking your period start dates.
Pros: Simple to use
Cons: Not great for irregular cycles
Tracking:
Other:
Cost: In-App Purchases available. Dot Pro$2.99 (sends information to your partner, syncs with your calendar on your phone, education), Community with enhanced privacy, Pregnancy Monitor
The basic app is free with option for a $45-a-year premium membership gives you VIP access to message boards and advanced features like an intercourse timing analyzer and detailed analysis of your fertility signals, including those that may point to a potential pregnancy.
Google Play Rating: 4.5 - 12,494 votes - Free Android
iTunes Rating: 4.7 - 436 reviews - Free - iOS - Health
Android Installs: 1-5 Million
Description: Fertility Friend interprets your own personal fertility signs and creates a fertility chart and ovulation calendar with personalized trying to conceive tips and analysis. Once pregnant you can follow your pregnancy on the integrated Pregnancy Tracker. Fertility Friend helps you relate your observation of external fertility signs (such as Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and Cervical Fluid) to your hormonal profile to determine your fertile window. Fertility Friend’s fertility tracker complements the FertilityFriend.com website. 650,000+ pregnancies and counting.
What is Unique: Fertility friend is one of the first tracking technologies, so it has a large user base. Can chose Fertility Friend’s advanced (default) accurate ovulation detector or choose ovulation detection based on the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)
Pro: Majority of users of the paid version say it’s worth the subscription and many report success with pregnancy even with irregular cycles
Cons: Complaints about how free version continues to ask for users to upgrade
Tracking Capabilities:
Other:
Cost: The basic app is free with option for a $45-a-year premium membership gives you VIP access to message boards and advanced features like an intercourse timing analyzer and detailed analysis of your fertility signals, including those that may point to a potential pregnancy.
Conclusion:
You have a lot of apps to chose from! One suggestion many women are making in the review section for several of the apps is for the apps to understand miscarriage better. Any ladies out there have an app they recommend that is capable of this?
For more advanced ovulation tracking and prediction, women's health is advancing quickly and there are a variety of monitors, trackers and sensors that use your own biological clues to determine your fertile window. Some our currently on the market and others are coming soon (including Priya!).
