Period and fertility tracking apps collect some of the most intimate data imaginable — cycle dates, sexual activity, pregnancy plans, mood changes, and more. In the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturn and growing concerns about how this data can be shared, sold, or subpoenaed, protecting your reproductive health privacy has never been more important. Here's how to stay safe.
Why Period Tracking App Privacy Matters
Most period tracking apps are not classified as healthcare providers, which means they are not covered by HIPAA. Without HIPAA protections, these apps have no federal legal obligation to keep your health data private. They can — and many do — share your information with third parties including advertisers, analytics companies, and tech platforms like Facebook and Google.
Research paints a concerning picture:
- A Surfshark analysis found that nearly half of period tracking apps studied shared data with third-party advertisers
- A JMIR study found that 20 out of 23 apps shared data with third parties, while only 12 requested user consent
- Three apps in the study began collecting data before obtaining consent
- Cambridge University researchers called menstrual tracking data a "gold mine" for advertisers that risks women's safety
Legal Risks
In states where abortion is restricted, period tracking data could theoretically be used to monitor pregnancies, identify individuals seeking abortions, or support law enforcement investigations. Many app privacy policies explicitly state that user data may be shared with law enforcement on request.
What Data Are These Apps Collecting?
Period tracking apps can collect far more than just cycle dates:
- Menstrual cycle data — start/end dates, flow intensity, cycle length
- Sexual activity — frequency, contraception use, partner details
- Pregnancy information — pregnancy tests, miscarriages, and abortion history (which can be logged explicitly or inferred from cycle data)
- Mood and symptoms — emotional state, physical symptoms, energy levels
- Location data — some apps track GPS even when not in use
- Device information — phone model, OS, unique identifiers, browsing data
The Safest Period Tracking Apps
If you want to track your cycle without compromising your privacy, choose apps that store data locally on your device and don't share with third parties:
Drip
- Open source and independently developed
- Stores all data locally on your device — nothing goes to the cloud
- No account creation required
- No third-party tracking or advertising
- When you delete the app, your data is gone completely
Euki
- Developed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation
- All data stored locally on device
- Includes a "fake" data feature that creates a decoy dataset if someone forces you to open the app
- No data sharing with third parties
- Designed specifically with reproductive rights in mind
Periodical
- Open source and minimal
- Stores data locally only
- No tracking, no ads, no cloud sync
- Simple and lightweight
Apps With Improved Privacy (EU-Based)
Flo and Clue are both based in the EU and subject to GDPR, which enforces special protections for sensitive health data. Flo introduced an "Anonymous Mode" that disconnects your cycle data from your personal identity. While these apps are safer than many U.S.-based alternatives, they still process data on company servers rather than storing everything locally.
The Safest Option
For maximum privacy, choose apps that store data exclusively on your device (Drip, Euki, or Periodical). Local-only storage means there's no server to breach, no cloud backup to subpoena, and no data to sell.
How to Protect Yourself on Any App
If you want to continue using a mainstream period tracking app, take these precautions:
Review the Privacy Policy
Before using any app, read its privacy policy carefully. Look for:
- Clear language about what data is collected and stored
- Whether data is shared with third parties, advertisers, or analytics companies
- Whether data can be shared with law enforcement
- How long data is retained after you delete your account
Use a Pseudonym and Separate Email
Don't use your real name or primary email address when creating an account. Use a pseudonym and a dedicated email address that isn't tied to your real identity. This makes it much harder to connect your reproductive data back to you.
Disable Unnecessary Permissions
Go into your phone's app permissions and disable:
- Location access — period tracking apps have no legitimate reason to know your GPS location
- Contacts access — no reason for a period app to access your address book
- Camera and microphone — unless you're scanning a thermometer
- Ad tracking — on iOS, deny the app permission to track your activity across other apps
Regularly Delete Old Data
Don't let years of intimate data accumulate in an app. Periodically:
- Export your data if you need to keep it for medical purposes
- Delete historical data from the app
- The less data stored, the less damage a breach or subpoena can cause
Avoid Apps With In-App Advertising
If an app shows you ads, it's sharing your data with ad networks. Ad-supported apps are monetizing your reproductive health information. Choose paid apps or free open-source alternatives without advertising.
What About Apple Health and Google Fit?
Both Apple Health and Google Fit include basic cycle tracking features:
- Apple Health stores cycle data locally on your device and in your encrypted iCloud backup. Apple has positioned itself as privacy-focused, and Health data is encrypted end-to-end when using iCloud.
- Google Fit syncs data to Google's servers. While Google has privacy protections in place, your data lives on Google's infrastructure and is subject to their privacy policy and legal processes.
For the privacy-conscious, Apple Health is the safer choice among the two built-in options.
Protect Your Broader Digital Footprint
App privacy settings are only one layer of protection. Data brokers and people-search sites may expose your personal information — including your name, address, phone number, and more — making it easier for anyone to connect your digital activities to your real identity.
PrivacyOn helps by removing your personal information from 100+ data broker and people-search sites automatically. With 24/7 monitoring, dark web scanning, and family plans for up to 5 people starting at $8.33/month, PrivacyOn ensures that your personal data isn't being sold or exposed without your consent.
Your Reproductive Health Data Is Private
No one should have to choose between tracking their health and protecting their privacy. By choosing privacy-respecting apps, minimizing the data you share, and keeping your broader digital footprint clean, you can take control of your reproductive health data. Your body, your data, your choice.