Whether you’re trying to conceive or you just got the news, these pregnancy apps are your day-to-day companions during one of the most meaningful (and change-filled) times in your life. Just remember, they’re not a replacement for real medical advice from your doctor, mkay?
Flo eliminates the applicator and absorbent tip of traditional pregnancy tests and uses a digital display to show your results. The smart countdown timer and clear, easy-to-read results are a game changer.
1. Flo Pregnancy Tracker
This smart period and pregnancy tracker uses artificial intelligence to predict your fertile window if trying to conceive, monitor menstrual symptoms and help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy. Flo also provides personalized health insights for your daily routine.
In addition to a comprehensive ovulation calendar and fertility monitoring features, Flo has a wide range of health related content including diet and exercise tips, sleep courses and daily wellness advice. It’s used by over 350 million women worldwide, and is the first period and ovulation tracker to achieve ISO 27001, the internationally recognized standard for information security.
Flo is free to use, and premium subscribers can link their accounts with their partners so they can view the app’s predictions and symptom reports together. However, a February 2019 Wall Street Journal report found that Flo’s privacy policy allows the company to transmit unencrypted personal data from the Flo app to Facebook (including a user’s name and technical identifier) for marketing purposes without their consent. This is in violation of Apple’s App Store guidelines and other consumer protection laws.
2. Pregnancy Test Checker
Choosing the best pregnancy test can feel overwhelming, especially considering there are tons of different tests out there. Our testers liked the Clearblue pregnancy test combo pack because it has two types of tests that are over 99% accurate from your missed period (and can detect pregnancy five days before you get a positive result). It has wide tips that allow for midstream testing and a heavy-duty cap to cover the soaked tip while you wait for results. Plus, the Smart Countdown displays your results on screen for a mess-free experience.
The app-compatible EasyRead app converts your test results into words—”Pregnant” or “Not pregnant”—for a more definitive answer than just the line in the result window. It also allows you to track your results over time. This pregnancy tracker from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is more science-forward than the standard cutesy “You got this mama!” language found in most other apps, offering a week-by-week baby size comparison, a research-backed list of foods to avoid during pregnancy and a weekly summary of the latest pregnancy health news.
3. Second Line Pregnancy Test
This app allows you to upload a photo of a pregnancy test and applies photo effects like brighten, contrast, invert, grayscale, exposure, gamma, saturation and sharpen to make that (hopefully) second line easier to see. It also offers an informative, supportive community and provides useful content like a pregnancy calculator and foods to avoid.
In the largest study of over-the-counter pregnancy tests, this brand was found to be 97 percent accurate from the day you miss your period. The kit comes with three separate sticks so you can test early, at the time of your missed period and again after. The stick has a wide tip and secure cap for a mess-free experience. The digital test has a countdown and displays a super easy-to-read result that’s hard to miss.
A former Time magazine top 50 app, this comprehensive pregnancy tracker helps you keep tabs on all aspects of your cycle and menstrual health including ovulation and PMS symptoms. It’s user-friendly and includes a one-stop-shop registry, plus doctor-authored articles, a daily growth chart and milestone reminders.
4. Pregnancy Calculator
Using an app to track when you’re most likely to ovulate can help you get an accurate idea of your estimated due date. You’ll just need to know the first day of your last period or the date you conceived (which may be different from the first day of your last menstrual cycle).
Most pregnancy apps use the Naegele’s rule method of calculating your due date, which adds 280 days to the first day of your average menstrual cycle. However, some apps also take into account your individual cycle length or ovulation timing to give you more accurate results.
The Bump app from WebMD offers a suite of tools that goes beyond the standard pregnancy tracking fare. It provides weekly updates on your baby’s development and a set of helpful per-trimester checklists that I’ve found to be really handy. It also features a community that’s a great source of support for women with TTC issues or pregnancy questions.
5. Pregnancy Calendar
Pregnancy magazines and books can stack up a mile high on the nightstand or kitchen table of many parents-to-be, but sifting through all that information can be time-consuming. That’s why apps designed with soon-to-be moms and dads in mind are so handy.
One of the best pregnancy apps is Flo, which helps users track their cycle and figure out when they’re most fertile to conceive. It also offers advice on how to prepare for a baby and what to expect each week. Plus, you can use the app to share your progress with friends and family on social media.
Another helpful app for expecting mothers is Ovia. The free app uses the data from your period and ovulation cycles to predict when you’ll ovulate, allowing you to eliminate guesswork. It also provides customized content, including research-backed health news and a weekly summary of clinical guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Other popular pregnancy apps include BabyCenter, which features a planner that helps you prepare for each doctor appointment and an interactive 3D model of what’s happening inside your body. It also includes daily articles with expert advice and first-time-mom questions from other moms.