Period tracker with no ads: your options, compared
Apple's Cycle Tracking is free and has no ads. Most other trackers are either ad-supported (like Maya's free version) or funded by subscriptions. Lulu has no ads and is funded by Lulu Plus: a 3-day free trial, then a yearly subscription. Remember that no ads doesn't automatically mean no tracking, so check the App Store privacy label too.
Why ads in a period app bother people
Ads are annoying in any app, but in a period tracker they feel extra intrusive. You open the app on a tender, crampy morning to log one thing and get a full-screen pop-up. And ads usually come with advertising SDKs, which raises the question of what those companies learn about you. Privacy International's 2019 report found several period apps, including Maya, sending data to Facebook through its developer tools.
How popular trackers are funded
From each app's US App Store listing or developer replies, October 2026. Upsell screens and paywalls are a separate thing from ads, so we note both.
| App | Ads? | How it's funded | "Data Used to Track You" on its App Store label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Cycle Tracking | No | Built into iPhone | Not applicable (part of iOS) |
| Lulu | No | Lulu Plus: 3-day free trial, then yearly | No Lulu server receives cycle data |
| Clue | Not stated on its listing; Plus upsells | Free tier plus Clue Plus | Identifiers |
| Flo | Premium upsells in app | Free tier plus Flo Premium | Purchases, Location, Identifiers, Usage Data |
| Stardust | Subscription upsells | Free plus subscription | Purchases, Identifiers, Usage Data |
| Maya | Yes, in the free version (developer says new plans aim to remove intrusive ads) | Ads plus optional Silver and Gold plans | Usage Data |
| Natural Cycles | Subscription app | Paid subscription | Contact Info |
An app can show zero ads and still send usage data to analytics or advertising partners. The App Store privacy label is the quickest way to see what a developer says it collects and uses for tracking.
Your ad-free options
Free: Apple Cycle Tracking
If you want truly free with no ads, Apple's built-in tracker in the Health app is hard to argue with. It predicts periods and fertile windows and, on Apple Watch Series 8 or later, gives retrospective ovulation estimates. It has no mood forecast or partner view. See Lulu vs Apple Cycle Tracking.
Paid, no ads: Lulu
Lulu has no ads. It's funded by Lulu Plus, which starts with a 3-day free trial and then renews yearly; you can cancel in your App Store settings. In return you get period, fertile window and ovulation predictions, a mood forecast that shows how you usually feel in each phase, symptom logging with bunny drawings, a doctor-ready PMS chart, partner sync, perimenopause mode, widgets, Apple Watch wrist temperature import and Apple Health. No account, and no Lulu server holds your cycle data.
Paid, no ads: Natural Cycles
Natural Cycles is a paid subscription with a different purpose: hormone-free contraception cleared by the FDA, using temperature data. See Lulu vs Natural Cycles.
Freemium: Clue, Flo, Stardust
These apps are free to start, with upgrades. You won't usually see classic banner ads, but expect prompts to upgrade. If that's fine for you, their free tiers are generous.
How to spot ads before you download
- Read recent App Store reviews and search them for "ads" or "pop-up".
- Check the privacy label: "Advertising Data" or "Data Used to Track You" hints at ad SDKs.
- Look at the in-app purchases list: a "Remove ads" item is a giveaway.
- Check whether core features like history are locked behind a paywall.
Privacy-minded? Our guide to private period trackers and do period apps share data? go deeper.
Free apps have to earn money somehow: ads, data partnerships, upsells or a paid tier. A subscription isn't automatically more private, but it means the company's income comes from you rather than from advertisers. Either way, the privacy label tells you more than the price.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free period tracker with no ads?
Yes: Apple's Cycle Tracking in the Health app is free and has no ads.
Does Lulu have ads?
No. Lulu is funded by Lulu Plus: a 3-day free trial, then a yearly subscription.
Does Flo have ads?
Flo mainly promotes its own Premium subscription inside the app. Its App Store label lists data that may be used to track you.
Does Maya have ads?
Maya's free version is ad-supported. Its developer has said new subscription plans aim to remove intrusive ads.
Sources
- Maya - Period & Health on the App Store (US)
- Privacy International: How menstruation apps are sharing your data (2019)
- Flo Cycle & Period Tracker on the App Store (US)
- Apple Support: Track your period with Cycle Tracking
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
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