Best secure and private period tracking apps in 2026
Period tracking apps are quite popular, but are they secure? Learn in this guide what apps should not hold your personal data and are secure to use.
Millions of people around the world are using period tracking apps to keep track of their menstrual cycle. But we all know that privacy is important and that protecting your data a vital necessity. This specifically applies to your sensitive health data, including data about your menstrual cycle. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, thereby eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion. As a reaction, many started to delete their period tracking apps. They feared that data about their reproductive health may be turned against them. Because a missed menstruation, as shown in your period tracking app, can be an indication for an abortion. If this sensitive data falls into the wrong hands, this could cause legal risks. In the age of online surveillance, and more worrying reproductive surveillance, it is time we own our data! Therefore, we have collected an overview of the best secure and private period tracking apps in 2026. So you can make sure your sensitive data is being protected!
What are period tracking apps?
Period tracking apps are mobile health apps that help to monitor your menstruational cycle, ovulation and symptoms. Thus, they can be helpful if you want to conceive a baby, avoid a pregnancy or if you just want to keep track of your cycle. In the digitalized world of the 21st century, period tracking apps have become very popular over recent years because they offer a nice and simple way to keep track of your cycle. These apps can also predict when your next cycle will be. Moreover, period tracking apps can further help you understand the symptoms better which you experience before, during or after your menstruational cycle. In short, tracking your cycle via period tracking apps can help you understand your sexual and reproduction health better.
Privacy concerns regarding period tracking apps
There are some privacy concerns when it comes to period tracking apps since they store sensitive health data. Because they store your sensitive data, there is the possibility that they can sell this sensitive data to third parties. For example, the period-tracking app, Flo, faced a lawsuit for sharing its users’ confidential information with other companies like Facebook and Google for targeted advertising. Moreover, these apps or your phone can be hacked and, thus, your data can be stolen.
Safe data practices to keep in mind
Generally, knowing how safe and private period tracking apps are, solely depends on their privacy policies. As period tracking apps – unlike Tuta Mail - do not use end-to-end encryption, you have to trust these app providers that they stick to what is written in their privacy policies. Therefore, we have collected some practical questions you can ask yourself when choosing a period tracking app. These questions can help you decide whether a period tracking app is safe to use or not.
Questions to ask yourself when choosing a period tracking app:
Does my period tracking app store my data locally?
It is important to know where the app stores your data to find out if it is safe to use. If your data is stored in a cloud, it is more vulnerable. If your data is stored on your mobile phone instead, you can have more control over it. Because if you delete the app, your data will be deleted as well. If your data is stored in a cloud, it may only be deleted if you request it.
Does my period tracking app share my data with third parties?
In a perfect world, period tracking apps wouldn’t share your data with any third party at all – sadly this is not the case. However, if apps openly share with whom they are sharing your data, this can be considered as a sign of trustworthiness.
Does my period tracking app allow me to delete my data?
Ideally, every app should have the option for a user to delete their personal data if they want to. (Note: If you decide to delete your period tracking app altogether you can use data removal services to make sure that all personal information that has been shared with third parties gets deleted as well)
Does your period tracking app track your location?
If so, you should turn off any location sharing for the app.
Tips for using period tracking apps safely
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Read the privacy policy thoroughly
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Apps that support 2FA are more secure → Read more about the benefits of 2FA
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Share as little personal information with your app as possible
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Stay anonymous if possible or create a pseudonym → Read more about how you can create an anonymous email account here
Important: If an app requires your real identity, you better delete it!
Overview of the best secure and private European period tracking apps
There will always be privacy and security concerns regarding the use of period tracking apps and because you are sharing sensitive menstrual data with an app, there’s always a risk. However, if you want to use an app for menstruation tracking, the good news is that there are privacy-first and privacy-enhanced apps available! Here is an overview of secure and private European period tracking apps:
Cicla
Screenshot of the website of the Cicla App
“Cicla” is a period tracking app which is designed in Europe and available in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque and English. The app was first released on March 15, 2026 and is available for iOS and Android. It can be downloaded in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Pros
• No data shared with third parties
• You can request your data to be deleted
Cons
• Cannot be verified if the app is fully GDPR compliant
• Not open source
• Collection of personal information, specifically name and email address
Clue
The period tracking app “Clue” is based in Berlin, Germany, and was founded in 2012. The app is available for iOS and Android and can be downloaded in the App Store and Google Play Store. It not only offers you the possibility to monitor your cycle but other features including tracking your symptoms, knowing when you’re fertile or predicting when your period or fertile days likely will come.
Pros
• No third-party sharing by default
• Supports data deletion
• GDPR compliant
Cons
• Not open source
• No local storage
• Location tracking
Drip
“Drip” is a period tracking app based in Berlin, Germany, and was first released in 2019. The app works on iOS as well as on Android and can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play and F-Droid. So far, “Drip” is only available in English but, according to their website, a German translation is high on the priority list.
Pros
• Open source
• Has local storage
• No sharing with third parties
• No location tracking
• GDPR compliant, except for U.S. data storage
Nira
“Nira”, based in Berlin, Germany as well, is available for iOS and Android and can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play Store. The app helps you to predict your next period and to monitor your fertile days.
Pros
• No sharing with third parties
• No data collection
• Local storage by default
Cons
• Not open source
Best secure and private period tracking app
In general, there are a variety of European period tracking apps available that also value privacy. The best one of the presented list is “Drip” as it is open source, GDPR-compliant, it stores your data locally and neither tracks your location nor does it share your data with third parties. However – and this is a big however – all the information we have is coming from the Drip privacy policy. As the app does not end-to-end encrypt your data, there is still a risk that your data is accessible to the Drip team. If you trust them, then it’s fine to use this app.
If you want 100% security and privacy for your menstruational cycle, we recommend that you track it like in the old days – on a piece of paper – or if you want a more modern solution: by putting in notes to your end-to-end encrypted Tuta Calendar. If your data is encrypted end-to-end like in Tuta, you can be sure that no one else can access it!
Alternative ways to track your cycle
No period app will be 100% safe and private to use. Because at the end of the day, you’re still sharing sensitive information with an app. And in some countries this sensitive information can be held against you. However, you have the right to share your data, especially concerning your sexual and reproductive health, only with whom you want it to be shared. This is part of your bodily autonomy. If you want to use a period tracking app, do choose a European period tracking app that is open source, stores your data locally and does not support location tracking.
Because your data will never be a 100% secure, it may be advisable to look for alternatives to period tracking apps to monitor your cycle. One alternative to track your cycle could be to use a calendar on your phone or tablet instead of a period tracking app. In your calendar you can mark the beginning and end of your cycle with an emoji or a keyword. Thus, you can simply obscure your cycle tracking. No one, except for you, will know for what the emojis or keywords in your calendar stand. (Tip: To add a further layer of security, you can secure your calendar with a password).
At Tuta, we offer a private and encrypted calendar which can be perfectly used for tracking your cycle. Moreover, Tuta Calendar is the only zero-knowledge calendar with quantum-resistant encryption. You can find out more about how to set up and use Tuta Calendar here.