Prenatal Care Best Pregnancy Apps How to find the best pregnancy apps to monitor your progress By Kayla Hui, MPH Kayla Hui, MPH Kayla Hui, MPH, is a New York-based public health journalist and Pulitzer Center fellow on crisis reporting. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 09, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn LinkedIn Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Navigating pregnancy is no easy feat. From morning sickness to fatigue and all the other unknowns of pregnancy, women can often feel completely overwhelmed. Luckily, with the use of mobile apps, expectant mothers can access health information and track their progress at their fingertips. Because pregnancy is a time where your body changes frequently, pregnancy apps can be a great way to monitor your progress. While pregnancy apps are not a substitute for professional medical advice, they can help you stay abreast of the challenges and curiosities about your baby’s health. While pregnancy apps are common, only a small batch keeps mothers-to-be informed on continuing maternal health changes and up-to-date information in the health care world. If you or your loved one are considering ways to monitor pregnancy, several pregnancy apps can help facilitate that process and for no cost. We compiled a list of the best pregnancy apps after reviewing costs, app features, ease of use, and more. Read on to peruse our selections. Best Pregnancy Apps Best Overall: Pregnancy+ Best App for High Risk Pregnancy: BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker Best For a Fee: Glow Nature Best For Growth Updates: Pregnancy & Baby Tracker Best for Labor: Full Term - Contraction Timer Best for Community: Peanut Best for Free: Stork Best Pregnancy Apps View All Best Pregnancy Apps Pregnancy+ BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker Glow Nature Pregnancy & Baby Tracker Full Term - Contraction Timer Peanut Stork Final Verdict Compare Providers FAQs Methodology Best Overall : Pregnancy+ Pregnancy+ Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools Offered: Pregnancy tracker, kick counter, contraction timerCost: Free to about $4.99 Why We Chose It: easy to use, personalized content for every stage of pregnancy, and contains all the useful features. Pros App is easy to use There are interactive images to view when tracking every week of pregnancy App can be personalized for dads, grandparents, and other family members App is available in 22 different languages Cons After 14 to 15 weeks, users are asked to pay a one-time fee There are some reported glitches With over 40 million users, it is no wonder that Pregnancy+ has become a favorite. It is the one-stop-shop for your pregnancy needs, allowing you to receive daily pregnancy information, count your kicks, time your contractions, and access pregnancy information week by week. You'll get pregnancy information daily and have the opportunity to track some of your major milestones including your workout, first ultrasound, and more. Some other fun features include a curated baby shopping list and thousands of baby names to browse. The app is here to support you at every stage of pregnancy. Enjoy it on an iPhone or an iPod with iOS 10.0 or later and on Android for free. Best App for High Risk Pregnancy : BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: Pregnancy tracker, kick counter, contraction timer, message boardCost: Free Why We Chose It: BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker offers weekly information as well as info about high-risk pregnancies. You’ll also be able to check the safety of specific products and food during pregnancy. Pros App is easy to use Weekly updates about each stage of pregnancy Special information about high-risk pregnancies Create a timelapse of your growing bump Switches to parenting advice once baby is born Cons Lots of on-app ads Some delay when moving from tool to tool within app Lack of regulation within message boards BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker is a one-stop-shop for all things pregnancy. From weekly pregnancy tracking, a kick counter, and a contraction timer, to a timelapse of your bump photos, name advice, and more, the app offers so much for new parents. We love that the app offers special information on high-risk pregnancies. You can also use the “Is It Safe?” tool to look up foods and products to see how safe their use is during pregnancy. After your baby is born, the app automatically switches to parenting advice to help you through the first year of your child’s life. You’ll be able to find information on feeding the baby, the baby’s first bath, diapering, and more. This app is free and works on iPhone, iPod, or iPad with iOS 10.0 or later or Android. Best For a Fee : Glow Nature Glow Nature Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: Pregnancy tracker, kick counter, contraction timer Cost: Free to about $80 Why We Chose It: multiple subscription options, unparalleled support, and health feedback Pros There are multiple subscription options App offers social community and partner support Alerts and insights based on entered data Cons Yearly subscriptions have larger upfront costs Lack of regulation on message boards Articles may need updates While the app is free to download, you have to pay subscription fees to access certain services. The good part is if you pay a one-time fee of $80, you will have access to the app for a lifetime. Should you choose to access the premium subscription, you can unlock private messaging that connects you with moms-to-be, where you can seek support from other members. More premium features include exclusive news articles and comparable data that show you how common your pregnancy issues are compared to everyone else. And never worry about taking your medication or missing a doctor’s appointment with the app’s built-in friendly reminders. Most reviewers agreed that the logging and community features were two of their favorite parts of the app. Download it at no cost on Androids or iPhones with IOS 11.0 or later. Best For Growth Updates : Pregnancy & Baby Tracker Pregnancy & Baby Tracker Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: Pregnancy tracking, message boardCost: Free Why We Chose It: 3D visuals of the baby, app features to track baby’s progress, cost, and medically-backed information and resources Pros App offers 3D visualization of baby’s growth during pregnancy Apps compares baby’s development with fruit sizes Information backed by experts and science Cons There are some reported glitches Lack of regulation on message boards There is reported trouble of loading progress pictures Tracking your pregnancy has never been made easier with the Pregnancy and Baby Tracker. Most of the app's key features help you keep tabs on your little one. For starters, the “How Big Is Your Baby” feature allows you to compare your baby’s growth in utero with illustrated fruit that will not only give you a real comparison to how big your baby is but put a smile on your face. The “Inside The Bump” feature offers 3D interactive visualizations of your baby’s growth weekly. As your baby gets bigger, learn new facts about the baby and the changes happening inside the body. While most of the app’s features help you document the inside of your body, the photo documenting feature will make your pregnancy more memorable. Document your pregnancy by adding a picture of your growing belly to the photo album weekly. To use the free app, you'll need iOS 11.0 or later; it's also compatible with Android. Best for Labor : Full Term - Contraction Timer Full Term - Contraction Timer Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: In-depth contraction analysisCost: Free Why We Chose It: If you’re just looking for a contraction timer, Full Term will help you track your contractions so you’ll know when you should be heading to the hospital or birthing center. Pros App is easy to use Ability to take notes on each contraction Edit or add contractions in Cons Not the best looking app Not useful outside of labor Full Term Contraction Timer will help you create a detailed report of your contractions. Just press the start button when your contraction begins (or better yet, have your partner do so) and then press stop once it’s finished. You’ll be able to add notes to each entry about intensity, whether your water broke, the color of any fluid, or anything else you want to remember to let your care provider know. The app will help you recognize a pattern in your labor, as you’ll be able to see the average duration and average timing of your contractions. You can even send a report to your provider, so they can help you determine whether it’s time to head to the hospital or birthing center. You’ll be able to set alerts based on the 5-1-1 rule (contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute, for at least 1 hour), or whatever timing is significant for you. This app is free and requires iOS 11.0 or greater for use on iPhone, iPad, or iPod, and can also be used with Android. Best for Community : Peanut Peanut Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: Message board, one-on-one chat, video call, live videoCost: Free Why We Chose It: It’s often difficult for pregnant people or new parents to make friends. That’s where Peanut comes in. You’ll be able to chat with parents like you, and even meet in person if you want. Pros Automatically join a group with your due date month Select your likes and interests to pair you with like-minded moms Community feed based on your interests Cons Kind of like a dating app Lots of information to fill out Must first delete topics you’re not interested in Pregnancy and parenthood can get lonely. But Peanut works to fix that by offering users several ways to connect with fellow parents. Users can sift through profiles of parents and pregnant people nearby and reach out to hopefully make a connection. You’ll be able to send a “wave,” message, or video chat together. Peanut also offers community message boards where new parents can ask for advice, support, or just chat about the stage they’re at. Live audio conversations are constantly streaming where people can connect about meaningful topics. Users will have to do a bit of weeding to select topics that matter most to them, but after that, Peanut will be able to set the algorithm to topics and users that are close to your interests. Peanut is free and requires iOS 13.0 for all Apple products and is also available on Android. Best for Free : Stork Stork Sign Up Now Key Specs Tools offered: Pregnancy tracker, contraction timer, weight log, message boardCost: Free with in-app purchases Why We Chose It: More than your average pregnancy tracker, Stork gives you not only weekly information but daily information about your pregnancy. You’ll have everything you need to feel in control of your pregnancy with this app. Pros Weekly and daily info on pregnancy Social network to meet other expectant parents Store bump photos Cons In-app purchases for premium content Stork helps expecting parents experience a healthy pregnancy by offering information both daily and weekly for their stage of pregnancy. You’ll be able to track your baby’s size, your weight gain, and keep a diary on your pregnancy symptoms and anything else of note. The app will also store bump photos of your growing belly. The app will help you figure out what to pack in your hospital bag and what to buy to be ready to care for a newborn. The app also works as a social network for expecting parents. Users can ask each other for advice and support, or just feel like they have a community that’s easy to access and right at their fingertips. Stork is free, but there are some in-app purchases for premium content. The app works for iOS 10.3 and later, as well as Android. Final Verdict The best pregnancy apps are easy to use, offer various tracking amenities, are personalized, and cultivate a community. We chose Pregnancy+ as our best overall option for its features, reputation, and rave reviews, but each of our choices has a great track record of helping mothers, both prospective and current. Compare Providers App Pregnancy Tracker? Contraction Timer? Kick counter? Message Board? Price Pregnancy + Best Overall Yes Yes Yes No Free to approximately $4.99 BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker Best for High Risk Pregnancy Yes Yes Yes Yes Free Glow Nature Best for a Fee Yes Yes Yes Yes Free to about $80 Pregnancy and Baby Tracker Best for Growth Updates Yes No No No Free Full Term - Contraction Timer Best for Labor No Yes Yes No Free Peanut Best for Community No No No Yes Free Stork Best for Free Yes Yes No Yes Free + in-app purchases FAQs How Much Do Pregnancy Apps Cost? Most pregnancy apps will provide health tracking functions and free medically-reviewed articles. The is considered a basic service and will usually not cost any money. However, like most apps, add-ons cost extra and usually require a subscription. Apps like Glow Nature offer premium services that include a messaging feature and detailed health insights. Premium subscriptions vary per app but range from a few dollars per month to $80 for a full year. Can My Partner Participate in the Tracking? Yes! Some apps like Pregnancy+ can be used and personalized for co-parents, grandparents, and other family members to use. Do I Need to Use The Pregnancy App Every Day? Although it is not required to use the app every day, logging your health behaviors can help you set pregnancy and wellness goals for you and the baby. For example, logging one cup of water a day can raise awareness that you’re not drinking enough water and allow you to set a goal to drink more fluids. The same applies to food, sleep, and exercise. Depending on the app’s feature and your specific goals, using the app every day can be beneficial to raise awareness of certain health behaviors and set goals so that you can have a healthy pregnancy. Some features, including the photo journal (taking a picture of your belly to measure growth) do not need to be taken daily. Images can be taken weekly or even monthly if you choose. How Early Or Late in My Pregnancy Should I Start Using A Pregnancy App? You can start using the app as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Most apps are personalized to you and will ask you to enter how far along you are. The apps also provide real-time updates to show your baby’s development in the womb. Note that it is never too late to start tracking. Apps like What To Expect allow you to track the postpartum period through the toddler years. It is also never too early. If you’re looking to get pregnant, browsing the apps’ interface can help you determine which one you might enjoy using when that time comes. No matter whether you join early, in the middle, or after your pregnancy, there will be features you can utilize, including the medically reviewed articles about parenthood and sleep. How We Chose The Best Pregnancy Apps We looked at over a dozen pregnancy apps and honed in on a few basic factors: cost, main features, support, ratings and reviews, and educational background information. Because pregnancy is medically complex, we also considered whether a medical review board and team reviewed the content on the app. Navigating pregnancy can also be daunting, which is why we included apps that provided online communities, chats, and/or partner usage, so you can feel confident that you won't be alone. All of these factors were considered when selecting the best pregnancy apps. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies