Is Natural Cycles effective as birth control

Natural Cycles was cleared by the FDA for contraception in 2018. The company cites 93% typical-use effectiveness and 98% perfect-use effectiveness. As with every fertility-awareness method, the result depends on consistent use.

Is there a free trial for Natural Cycles

Natural Cycles may run limited promotions, but it does not offer a permanent free tier. The subscription starts from day one. That is a meaningful pricing difference versus Clue's free tier. Floriva costs $5.99/mo with no free tier and no trial period.

What thermometer do I need for Natural Cycles

Natural Cycles requires a basal body temperature thermometer with enough precision for fertility tracking. The company sells its own device and also supports connected wearables such as Oura. That hardware cost sits on top of the subscription.

What is included in the Natural Cycles thermometer bundle

The bundle pairs the annual subscription with a compatible thermometer. It is the easiest starting option if you do not already own a device for daily temperature measurement.

Can I use Natural Cycles just for period tracking without the contraceptive method

Yes. You can use it in cycle-tracking mode without relying on it for contraception. The question is whether that use case justifies paying $12.99/mo for a product built and priced around the regulated contraception workflow.

pricing-breakdowns

Natural Cycles Pricing: Is $12.99/mo Worth Paying

Natural Cycles starts at $12.99/mo with no free tier. This page covers what you pay for, what FDA clearance means, and where privacy still falls short.

The Real Cost of Natural Cycles Natural Cycles charges $12.99/mo or $99.99/yr. There is no permanent free tier. If you want the full fertility awareness workflow, you also need a compatible thermometer or wearable. For many users, that pushes the first year cost well above the subscription page price. That makes Natural Cycles the most expensive mainstream period tracker before you even decide if you need what it sells. The price is not for privacy. It is not for richer symptom tracking. It is for a regulated contraception product built around daily temperature inputs. Note: Natural Cycles raised prices in June 2025. The figures cited here ($12.99/mo, $99.99/yr) were current at original publication. Current pricing may be higher. Check the Natural Cycles website for up to date rates. What You Are Actually Paying For You are paying for the FDA cleared contraceptive method. That is the main difference between Natural Cycles and every cheaper tracker in this category. The company ran the studies, got the De Novo clearance, and built the product around that regulated use case. That clearance matters if you are using the app as contraception. It does not help you if you only want cycle