alternatives

Glow App Alternative: Trackers Without Data Monetization

Glow is cloud-based with no documented on-device storage architecture. Here's what that means for your reproductive health data and what to use instead.

What Glow Doesn't Document Glow is a period and fertility tracker that has been available since 2013. It offers cycle tracking, fertility prediction, pregnancy tracking, and community features. The app has a substantial user base and broad feature coverage. What Glow does not offer is a documented privacy first architecture. The app is cloud based, and its privacy policy does not commit to avoiding data sales to third parties in clear, auditable terms. There is no on device storage model, no published commitment to zero knowledge design, and no documented history of architectural privacy investment. Documented Privacy Failures Glow has a specific enforcement and breach history. In September 2020, Glow settled with the California Attorney General for $250,000. Investigators found the "Partner Connect" feature automatically granted data access to anyone who sent a linking request, without the recipient's confirmation. This exposed intimate health data including miscarriage and abortion history to unauthorized parties. Consumer Reports originally discovered the vulnerability in July 2016. The gap between discovery and settlement was four years. In October 2024, security researcher Ovi