Period Tracker Reviews: Period Tracker Calendar

Do you need a period tracker? I got you covered. I'm reviewing the four best-rated free apps for Android, so you can chart your fertility in a way that works for you. Next up is

Period Tracker

It says what it does! Period Tracker is the most minimal of the apps I downloaded. The interface is pretty gender-neutral, with a green colour palette accented with red. The icon is a daisy on a green background with the word "Calendar" below it (sneaky!), but that's the limit of the girly aspects of the app. This is also mitigated by the discreet name and interface, which means that hardly anyone would realise you're currently haemorrhaging if they catch a quick peek at your screen. If you're non-binary or trans, this might be great for you.

As the app itself suggests, it's basically just a calendar format that allows you to really view your menstrual situation at a glance. The header gives you a handy little overview as well, reminding you when you're due for your next fertile window or period. Once the app has learnt your cycle, fertile days are marked with little pale green circles, with ovulation highlighted in dark green. Periods are indicated with big green ticks, with future periods predicted with solid blocks. You have the option of tracking your intimacy with tiny pink hearts, which is handy for those trying to get pregnant (or avoid it). The interface is incredibly user-friendly to operate; you just tap a day to add a period tick and hold a long tap to indicate intimacy or add another note. What's handy is that when you do the long tap, a little pop-up appears telling you whether you have a high or low chance of getting pregnant on that particular day -- you know, if the fertile window markers weren't enough of a hint.

There's also a graph section which really gives a you perspective on your bodily trends, providing visual representations of your period and intimacy stats. It would be pretty cool to see how your cycle affects your libido and gain a better understanding of how your body works. Of course, I say it would be cool, because this option wasn't relevant to me, but I'm sure it works just fine. I also really liked the way the creators of the app used the word "intimacy" instead of "sex," removing the implication that you're just recording penetrative hetero stuff and making it a lot more inclusive. A medal to progressive app-designers! We salute you.

Unfortunately, one thing I wished Period Tracker included was a more accurate recording system that functioned at a glance, like the rest of its intuitive design. The other apps I reviewed provided the option for marking things like the heaviness of flow, spotting, or other bodily symptoms like cramps or bloating. However, I do feel like this was a conscious decision on part of the designers. The app is intentionally minimal, simple, with a no-frills functionality that doesn't get caught up in superfluous functions that you might not end up using anyway. If you felt the need to record your intense craving for refined carbohydrates and chocolate while speculating on whether it had anything to do with your heavy flow, you could always make a note about it.