NaturalCyclespage |

Q: Which one should I choose?

Pick Natural Cycles if your priority is hormone-free birth control or structured fertility planning. Choose Flo if you want an all-round period, fertility, and wellness tracker with lots of content. Go with Clue if you love data-rich charts and a clean, neutral design. If you’re deciding on birth control specifically, consider using this information as a starting point and then speak with a healthcare professional.

Natural Cycles vs Flo vs Clue

We compared contraception options, fertility tracking, usability, privacy, and value. Our pick: Natural Cycles if you want hormone-free birth control with clear daily guidance.

At a glance

Natural Cycles

Best for hormone-free birth control

Top pick if you want an evidence-based, hormone-free birth control app with clear daily guidance and strong fertility tracking.

Uses basal body temperature, LH tests & cycle data
Distinct modes to avoid or plan pregnancy
Optional wearable integrations for easier tracking

Get Natural Cycles

Flo

Best overall wellness tracker

Widely used period & fertility tracker with mood logging, pregnancy tools, and lots of health content for everyday cycle care.

Tracks period, symptoms, mood, sex & lifestyle
Rich library of articles & expert-backed tips
Best if you want broad health insights, not strict birth control

Explore Flo

Clue

Best for data & patterns

Cycle tracking app with a clean, gender-neutral design and detailed statistics for users who love to see patterns and trends.

Flexible tags for symptoms, mood, triggers & more
Great charts for cycle length, PMS & patterns over time
Less focused on explicit birth control guidance

See Clue

What to compare	Natural Cycles	Flo	Clue
Primary focus	Hormone-free birth control & fertility awareness	Period & fertility tracking with broader health insights	Cycle tracking, symptom patterns & data visualization
Birth control & fertility	Designed to help avoid or plan pregnancy by identifying fertile days	Supports trying to conceive & cycle awareness; not positioned as a contraceptive method	Focuses on understanding patterns; can log protection used but not centered on birth control guidance
Tracking methods	Basal body temperature, LH tests, period dates, symptoms	Period, symptoms, mood, sex, exercise, sleep & more	Period, symptoms, triggers, medication, and custom tags
Daily guidance	Clear green/red day indications depending on fertility status	Predicted fertile window & cycle phase insights	Cycle forecasts & probability-style predictions
Education & content	Science explainers focused on fertility awareness and birth control	Large library of articles, Q&A and health explainers	Readable cycle science and explanations of stats & patterns
Integrations & devices	Works with its own thermometer; integrates with select wearables for temperature data (where supported)	Can sync with Apple Health / Google Fit for activity and sleep (if enabled)	Syncs with Apple Health; emphasizes in-app logging and stats
Data & privacy	Emphasizes medical-style security and transparent data handling	Privacy controls and options to limit identifying information	Strong focus on transparency and research partnerships
Platforms	iOS & Android	iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Pricing	Subscription; thermometer or wearable may be separate	Free basic tracker with optional premium subscription	Free core features; Clue Plus subscription for extras
Best for	Users who want hormone-free birth control backed by a structured method	People who want an all-in-one period, fertility & wellness app	Users who love detailed charts and a neutral, data-first design

Editorial stance: Want a structured, hormone-free birth control option? Choose Natural Cycles. Prefer broader wellness tracking and community features? Start with Flo. Want ultra-detailed patterns and charts? Clue is a great fit.

Pick by use-case

Best overall for hormone-free birth control

Natural Cycles is ideal if you want a structured, science-based way to use fertility awareness for either avoiding or planning pregnancy.

Get Natural Cycles

Best for general health & community

Flo is perfect if you want cycle tracking plus mood, symptom & pregnancy tools, along with lots of educational content.

See Flo

Best for data & pattern tracking

Clue’s detailed charts and flexible logging make it great if you love seeing long-term trends in your cycle and symptoms.

See Clue

FAQ

What does Natural Cycles actually do?

Natural Cycles is a fertility awareness app that uses your body temperature and cycle data to estimate when you’re likely to be fertile or not. You can use that information either to try to avoid pregnancy or to plan it, depending on the mode you select. It doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections, and no method of birth control is 100% effective.

How are Flo and Clue different from Natural Cycles?

Flo and Clue focus more on broad cycle tracking, health insights, and symptom or mood logging. They’re great if you want to understand your cycle, track PMS or pregnancy, and see long-term patterns. Natural Cycles, on the other hand, is built specifically around using fertility awareness as a structured way to avoid or plan pregnancy.

Do these apps replace my doctor or other birth control options?

No. Apps like Natural Cycles, Flo, and Clue can help you understand your cycle and support certain birth control or planning choices, but they don’t replace medical advice, regular checkups, or other methods of contraception. It’s always a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional about which birth control options are safe and appropriate for you.

Which one should I choose?

Pick Natural Cycles if your priority is hormone-free birth control or structured fertility planning. Choose Flo if you want an all-round period, fertility, and wellness tracker with lots of content. Go with Clue if you love data-rich charts and a clean, neutral design. If you’re deciding on birth control specifically, consider using this information as a starting point and then speak with a healthcare professional.