PregnancyBest Pregnancy Apps in 2026
An honest comparison of pregnancy apps — what each one actually does well, where it falls short, and who it's built for.
There's no single pregnancy app that does everything perfectly. Some are built for tracking. Some for meditation. Some specifically for labor. I've tested most of the popular ones during two pregnancies and helped build one of them, so I'll be upfront about that. ZenPregnancy and Contraction Timer are our apps. They're listed first because I know them best — but I've tried to be fair about what every app does and doesn't do.
This list focuses on apps that actually help during pregnancy and labor. Not the ones with the biggest marketing budget.
Quick summary: ZenPregnancy is best for hypnobirthing and daily meditation. Contraction Timer is best as a free standalone labor tracker. Flo is best for comprehensive cycle and pregnancy tracking. GentleBirth is best for structured birth preparation programs. Freya is best as a hypnobirthing-focused contraction timer. Each app serves a different need.
Pregnancy app reviews
ZenPregnancy is a pregnancy meditation and hypnobirthing app with over 200,000 downloads. It includes daily guided meditations matched to your trimester, a full hypnobirthing audio library, breathing exercises, birth affirmations, a contraction timer, baby kick counter, and due date calculator.
The app is ORCHA certified for health app quality (used by the NHS for app evaluation). It doesn't collect personal health data. No account required. Meditations can be downloaded for offline use during labor.
I'm biased here because we built it. But I also used it during my wife's pregnancy, and the thing that actually worked was the nightly meditation routine. She slept better within a week. The contraction timer worked well during labor too — simple, one-tap, no confusion when you're in pain.
What's good
- 50+ meditation and hypnobirthing tracks
- Contraction timer + kick counter built in
- Works offline during labor
- No data collection, no account needed
- ORCHA certified
What's not
- Premium required for full hypnobirthing library
- No community or social features
- Week-by-week tracking is basic compared to Flo
Contraction Timer is a free standalone contraction tracking app built specifically for labor. It records duration, frequency, and timestamps with a single tap. The app includes AI-powered contraction analysis that alerts you when your pattern matches the 5-1-1 rule — every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour.
It also includes calming music that plays alongside the timer, which sounds like a small feature until you're actually timing contractions at 3am and every little bit of calm helps. You can share your contraction history with your nurse at the hospital.
The app doesn't collect any data. Available on both iOS and Android. It's what I'd recommend if you just need a contraction timer and nothing else.
What's good
- Completely free contraction tracking
- Simple one-tap interface
- AI pattern analysis with hospital alerts
- Calming music during timing
- No data collection at all
What's not
- No meditation or hypnobirthing content
- No pregnancy tracking features
- Smaller review count than competitors
Flo is the most downloaded women's health app in the world with over 420 million total downloads. It covers period tracking, ovulation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. During pregnancy mode, Flo provides week-by-week updates, symptom tracking, a health library with medically-reviewed articles, and expert-backed content.
Flo's strength is its breadth. If you want one app that handles everything from trying to conceive through pregnancy and beyond, Flo does it. The content library is massive and reviewed by 100+ doctors. The prediction algorithms are among the most accurate available.
Where Flo falls short for pregnancy specifically: it doesn't include hypnobirthing, dedicated meditation tracks, or a standalone contraction timer. It's a tracking and education app, not a labor preparation app.
What's good
- Most comprehensive women's health tracking
- Massive medically-reviewed content library
- Accurate predictions and AI features
- Anonymous Mode for privacy
- Covers TTC through postpartum
What's not
- No hypnobirthing or meditation audio
- No dedicated contraction timer
- Premium is required for many features
- Collects usage data (opt-out available)
GentleBirth is a structured birth preparation app that combines hypnobirthing, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. It includes a 30-day program, meditation sessions, a contraction timer, and evidence-based birth education. The app also has a dedicated partner track so birth partners can learn techniques too.
GentleBirth takes a more clinical, program-based approach than ZenPregnancy. You follow a structured course rather than picking individual meditations. Some women prefer that structure. The science content is solid and well-referenced.
The main downside is pricing. GentleBirth requires a subscription with no free tier for meditations. If you're looking for free tools, this isn't the one.
What's good
- Structured 30-day birth prep program
- Combines hypnobirthing + CBT + mindfulness
- Partner-specific content
- Evidence-based approach
- Includes contraction timer
What's not
- No free meditation content
- Subscription required for everything
- Can feel rigid if you prefer flexible practice
Freya is a contraction timer (they call contractions "surges") designed with hypnobirthing principles. It guides you through each contraction with breathing visualizations and calming audio. The timer tracks duration and frequency while playing relaxation content between contractions.
What makes Freya different from a standard contraction timer is the integrated breathing guidance. During each surge, you follow visual breathing cues on screen. Between contractions, it plays relaxation audio. It feels less like a medical tool and more like a labor companion.
Freya doesn't include daily pregnancy meditation or week-by-week tracking. It's built for labor, not the months before it.
What's good
- Breathing guidance during contractions
- Hypnobirthing-focused timer
- Visual breathing cues on screen
- Calming atmosphere during labor
What's not
- No daily meditation library
- No pregnancy tracking features
- Limited to labor use only
Christian Hypnobirthing combines standard hypnobirthing relaxation techniques with faith-based affirmations and prayers. If your faith is an important part of how you approach pregnancy and birth, this app integrates that directly into the meditation and preparation content.
The audio quality is good and the approach is gentle. It's a niche app for a specific audience, and it serves that audience well. It doesn't include a contraction timer or pregnancy tracking tools.
What's good
- Faith-integrated birth preparation
- Quality relaxation audio
- Unique niche well-served
What's not
- No contraction timer or tracking tools
- Small content library
- Only relevant for faith-based users
How we compared these apps
Every app on this list was evaluated on the same criteria: what features are included, what's free vs. paid, privacy practices, user ratings, and whether the app actually helps during pregnancy and labor — not just looks good in screenshots.
I didn't test every app on the market. I focused on the ones that come up most often in forums, recommendations from midwives, and App Store searches for pregnancy, hypnobirthing, and contraction timer.
What matters most in a pregnancy app
A pregnancy app should do at least one thing really well. Some apps try to do everything and end up doing nothing well. The apps ranked highest here are the ones that excel at their core purpose.
Privacy matters. Pregnancy is personal. Apps that don't require accounts, don't collect health data, and store everything locally score higher. Flo's Anonymous Mode is a positive step, but apps like ZenPregnancy that collect no data at all are simpler from a privacy standpoint.
Offline access matters. During labor, you may not have reliable WiFi. Apps that let you download content in advance and work offline are more useful when it counts.
Medical accuracy matters. No app replaces your doctor. But apps that include medically-reviewed content, acknowledge limitations, and hold certifications like ORCHA are more trustworthy than apps that make vague health claims.
Limitations & disclosure
ZenPregnancy and Contraction Timer are our apps. They're listed first because we know them best, not because they're objectively the best option for everyone. Different apps serve different needs.
No pregnancy app is a medical device. None of the apps listed here diagnose conditions, predict birth outcomes, or replace prenatal care. They are wellness and tracking tools that complement professional medical guidance.
Ratings and download counts referenced here are from the Apple App Store and Google Play as of early 2026. These numbers change over time.
If you have feedback about this comparison, corrections, or an app we should include, email hello@mindtastik.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pregnancy app in 2026?
The best pregnancy app depends on what you need. ZenPregnancy is best for hypnobirthing and meditation. Flo is best for cycle and pregnancy tracking. GentleBirth is best for comprehensive childbirth education. Freya is best as a dedicated contraction timer with breathing guidance.
Are pregnancy apps free?
Most pregnancy apps offer free core features with optional paid subscriptions. ZenPregnancy and Contraction Timer both offer free contraction timing and kick counting. Flo offers free cycle tracking. Premium features like guided meditations or advanced analytics typically require a subscription.
Is there a pregnancy app with hypnobirthing?
Yes. ZenPregnancy includes a full hypnobirthing audio library with fear release sessions, birth visualizations, and breathing exercises. GentleBirth also includes hypnobirthing-inspired content. Christian Hypnobirthing offers faith-based hypnobirthing audio.
What pregnancy app do doctors recommend?
No single pregnancy app is universally recommended by doctors. Flo is used by over 77 million women monthly and is referenced in clinical settings. ZenPregnancy is ORCHA certified for health app quality. The best approach is to use an app alongside professional prenatal care.
Which contraction timer app is best?
Contraction Timer is a free standalone contraction timer with calming music and AI-powered pattern analysis. Freya is a contraction timer designed specifically for hypnobirthing. GentleBirth also includes a contraction timer. The best choice depends on whether you want a simple timer or one integrated with meditation.
Do pregnancy apps collect my data?
Data practices vary. ZenPregnancy and Contraction Timer do not collect personal health data — everything stays on your device. Flo collects usage data but offers an Anonymous Mode. Always review privacy policies before sharing health information with any app.
Can I use a pregnancy app during labor?
Yes. Apps like ZenPregnancy and Contraction Timer work offline once meditations and features are downloaded. You can use them during labor at the hospital even without WiFi.
What is the difference between a pregnancy tracker and a hypnobirthing app?
A pregnancy tracker follows your pregnancy week by week with developmental milestones and symptom logging. A hypnobirthing app focuses on labor preparation through meditation, breathing techniques, and relaxation audio. Some apps like ZenPregnancy combine both.