Ruva vs Glow
Ruva brings your periods, fertility logs and pregnancy tracking together, with every feature free. If you’re weighing Glow, start with what you want each day: private records, no ads and no account needed to track.
Glow lets you track fertility signs such as basal body temperature and cervical mucus. It is free to download and use, with Premium features across a family of four apps.1,2,3
Ruva gives you five modes in one free app, from cycle tracking to perimenopause. Your entries stay on your device unless you choose cloud backup, partner sharing or a Community post. Start in any browser or on Android today. Apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac, plus Apple Watch, are on the way.
At a glance
- Glow is free to download and use. Optional Glow Premium covers all four apps.2,4,3
- Glow stores data in Amazon Web Services databases using AES-256. You can opt to remove key health data from its servers and keep it on your phone.5,1
- Glow says it does not sell or share users’ health information.1
- Glow describes its app as an aid to conception, not contraception.6
- Glow’s privacy and security settlement included a $250,000 civil penalty. Glow did not admit liability.7,8
Side by side
| Feature | Ruva | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| Price and free tier | Every feature free You get every Ruva feature for free, with no paywall or premium tier. That includes every mode, the doctor summary and the library of guides. | Free, with optional Premium Glow is free to download and use, with paid Premium features. Its website, help centre and US App Store listing do not all show the same annual Premium price, so check the current price in the app. 2,3,9 |
| Ads | No ads No ads anywhere in Ruva, and no advertising ID. Ruva uses Google Analytics for Firebase with advertising switched off to see how the app is used, and counts health-related screens itself so they never reach Google. You can switch it off in Settings › Privacy settings. | Ad-free with Premium Glow lists ad-free use as a Premium benefit and says it may use third-party advertisers. You can turn off personalised ads in settings. 3,1 |
| Account needed | No account needed Start tracking without an account. Linking Google, Apple or an email account is optional, needed only to join the Community or restore a cloud backup on a new device. | Email and password sign-in Glow’s policy describes the details collected to create an account. Its help centre describes signing in with your email and password. 1,10 |
| Where your data is kept | On your device Your entries stay on your device, in your browser when you use Ruva on the web. They leave only if you make a cloud backup, share with a partner or post in the Community. | Cloud, with on-phone option Glow stores data in Amazon Web Services databases with encryption in transit and at rest. You can opt to keep key health data on your phone and remove it from Glow’s servers, which may limit some features. 5,11,1 |
| Selling and sharing data, per their policy | No data sales Ruva doesn’t sell your data, and your cycle data isn’t shared with Google or Apple if you link an account. You choose whether to make a cloud backup, share with a partner or post in the Community. | No health data sold or shared Glow says it does not sell or share health information or sell personal information for money. Some disclosures of identifiers and internet activity through advertising technology may count as sale or sharing under privacy laws, with an opt-out offered. 1 |
| Export your data | Download everything Download everything as one file you can restore into Ruva on another device without an account. You can also get a CSV copy for spreadsheets. | CSV on request Contact Glow’s support team to request a CSV file of your data. 12 |
| Delete your data | Delete inside the app You can delete everything from inside Ruva. | Delete Account option Glow’s Delete Account option permanently removes account data. Its policy says deletion will be completed within 45 days. 13,1 |
| Languages | Eight languages Use Ruva in English, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Arabic, Simplified Chinese or Hindi. Arabic has a right-to-left layout. | 33 languages The US App Store lists English and 32 more languages. 2 |
| Platforms | Browser and Android Use Ruva in any browser, or get the Android and Wear OS apps on Google Play. Apps for iPhone and iPad are on the way, along with Mac (as the iPad app) and Apple Watch. | iPhone and Android Glow has App Store and Google Play listings, and its help centre refers to period data on Apple Watch. Glow Community is also on the web. 2,6,14,3 |
| Pregnancy, after a birth, perimenopause | Yes, each has its own mode Choose cycle tracking, trying to conceive, pregnancy, after a birth or perimenopause. You can switch modes without losing what you’ve logged. | Across four apps Glow describes four apps covering periods through parenting. Its period tracker is described as covering a first period through post-menopause. 3,6 |
| Contraception | Not contraception Ruva helps you track your cycle, with dates that are estimates based on what you’ve logged. It isn’t contraception or a medical device. | Not contraception Glow says it must not be used for contraception, though you can log birth control when your account is set to avoiding pregnancy. Ruva is also not contraception or a medical device, and its dates are estimates. 6,15 |
| Offline use | Log offline Your entries save on your device, so you can log without a connection once Ruva has loaded in your browser. | Not stated Offline use is not stated. |
Use Ruva free in your browser or in the Android and Wear OS apps from Google Play, with no account needed. Apps for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch are on the way. The feature availability table shows which features come with the phone apps, and the privacy policy explains your data choices.
Features compared
| Feature | Ruva | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| Hormone chart | Typical hormone curves See how FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone typically change across a cycle, drawn to your cycle length with today marked. It’s a typical cycle, not your own levels. | Not stated |
| Patterns from your logs | From your own logs Recorded patterns count what you log before and during your periods. They show patterns, not causes, and there are no scores. | Partly free Glow gives insights into your cycle patterns, but cycle analysis, comparative insights and advanced charts need Glow Premium. 2,16 |
| Temperature and LH chart by cycle | One cycle at a time Your basal temperature by cycle day, with your LH test results and period days. It never marks fertile days. | With Glow Premium You can log BBT, but charts of symptoms, BBT and ovulation test results together, and the advanced BBT chart, need Glow Premium. 17,2 |
| Report for your doctor | Free PDF A summary of your cycle lengths, periods, symptoms and patterns for your doctor, saved as a PDF. | PDF of past logs Glow lets you download a PDF report of your past logs. It doesn’t describe it as a report for a doctor. 18,19 |
| Partner sharing | Free Share a view of your cycle with a partner and choose what they see. | Free You can invite a partner by email, with shared alerts for ovulation day, period start and end, and the fertile window. 17,3 |
| Community | Anonymous communities Join topic communities without showing your name. Joining needs a linked Google, Apple or email account; tracking never does. | Forums free Glow’s discussion forums are in the free version. Private messaging is a Premium feature. 2,17 |
| Choose what you log | Hide and reorder Choose which sections and trackers appear when you log, and put them in your own order. | Not offered Glow’s help centre says it has no way of customising logs. 20 |
| Your own tags | Your own tags Add tags for what matters to you, like a supplement or a trigger, and see them counted in your patterns. | Not offered Glow’s help centre says it has no way of customising logs and suggests using notes instead. 20 |
| Automatic deletion | By section and age Choose sections and an age, and older entries in them are deleted automatically. Period days stay, because your estimates need them. | Not stated |
| New-phase reminder | Opt-in reminder A reminder on the first day of each new phase, with discreet wording if you prefer. In a browser, reminders arrive while Ruva is open in a tab. | Period and ovulation Glow has period and ovulation reminders, and partner alerts for the fertile window. A reminder for each new phase isn’t described. 19,3 |
| Import from other apps | From Flo, Clue and more Import a data export from Flo, Clue, Natural Cycles, Apple Health, drip. or Mensinator, or a CSV file. Ruva reads it on your device and shows a preview first. | Apple Health, Google Fit Glow says you can import data from other apps, including Apple Health on iOS and Google Fit on Android. 21,2 |
What Glow offers
- Fertility logs for basal body temperature, cervical mucus and sexual activity, plus an ovulation test analyser.2,22
- Glow says more than 25 million women have joined its Community.3
- Shared alerts for ovulation, periods and the fertile window, plus daily logs for both partners.3
- An option to keep key health data on your phone and remove it from Glow’s servers.1
- English and 32 more languages listed on the US App Store.2
- Medication and supplement reminders, plus a 4-digit passcode.23,10
Where Ruva goes further
- Ruva keeps your entries on your device from the start, with no account needed to track. They leave only if you choose cloud backup, partner sharing or a Community post. Glow’s option to keep key health data on your phone requires opting in and may limit features.1
- Every Ruva feature is free, including all five modes and the doctor summary. You get an app with no ads and no premium tier.
- Download everything from Ruva yourself, including entries, notes, medicines and settings. Restore the file on another device without an account, or use the CSV copy in a spreadsheet.
- Ruva helps you read your own history. Recorded patterns count what you logged around your periods, and cycle recaps carry no score or judgement.
- Keep using the same app through pregnancy, after a birth and during perimenopause. Switch Ruva’s modes as your needs change without deleting what you’ve logged.
Choose Ruva for everyday tracking
If you want support while trying to conceive
Glow offers a large Community and shared partner alerts. Ruva brings your test results and temperature readings together, with an optional Community and a private partner summary you choose, all free.3
If you want to keep fertility details together
Glow lists an advanced BBT chart among its Premium features. Ruva lets you record basal temperature, ovulation tests and pregnancy tests for free, alongside fertile-window estimates based on your history. It can mark a likely past ovulation from a logged temperature rise, and those estimated windows narrow as you log more cycles.2
If you want to start without an account
Open Ruva in your browser and start tracking without an account. Your entries stay on your device unless you choose cloud backup, partner sharing or a Community post.
Questions
What was Glow’s 2020 settlement in California?
The California Attorney General alleged that Glow failed to safeguard health information adequately and allowed access without users’ consent. The settlement included a $250,000 civil penalty and required affirmative consent before sharing personal, medical or sensitive information, with a way to revoke it. Glow did not admit liability and says the issues were fixed immediately and no user data was affected. Ruva keeps your logged records on your device unless you choose cloud backup, partner sharing or a Community post.7,8,24
Does Glow sell my data?
Glow says it does not sell personal information for money or sell or share health information. Its policy says some disclosures of identifiers and internet activity through cookies and advertising technology may count as sale or sharing under privacy laws, and offers an opt-out. Ruva has no ads and does not sell data.1
Can I download my data from Glow?
Yes. Glow’s help centre says its support team can send you a CSV file on request. In Ruva, you can download everything yourself, restore the file without an account and get a CSV copy for spreadsheets.12
Is Glow or Ruva a form of birth control?
No. Glow says its app must not be used for contraception. Ruva is not contraception or a medical device. It helps you keep your records together, with period and fertile-window dates clearly presented as estimates.6
Sources
Every statement about Glow on this page comes from the pages below, read on the date shown. We quote the wording we relied on.
- Glow privacy policy (Glow)
we will delete all “Key Health Data” (e.g., period data, health logs, etc.) from our servers, but leave it on your personal device.
We do not sell or share health information from our users.
We may engage third-party advertisers or advertising companies to display ads on our Service and other online services.
You can opt-out of personalized ads on our apps and tracking for interest-based advertising purposes by using the disable personalized ads feature in your settings.
that you provide to create an account on the Service, including your name, email address, password, date of birth and mobile phone number.
opting into this feature may cause certain features of our Apps to be limited.
We do not sell Personal Information for money. However, some privacy laws broadly define “sale,” “share,” and “targeted advertising” to include certain disclosures involving cookies, pixels, analytics, or advertising technologies.
the categories of Personal Information that we have sold or shared include identifiers (e.g., IP addresses) and internet or other similar network activity.
Notice of Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing of and the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” Link
we will complete the deletion within forty-five days.
You will then be the only person with access to these health data and no one else.
This Privacy Policy describes the information and privacy practices of Upward Labs Holdings, Inc. (“Glow,” “we”, “us” or “our”)
- Glow: Ovulation & Period App, US App Store listing (Apple App Store)
Glow is free to download and use. Upgrading to Glow Premium will unlock:
Glow Premium (yearly) $69.99
Languages English and 32 more English, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi
Requires iOS 16.0 or later.
Glow also allows you to track other fertility signs, such as basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and sexual activity.
Seller Glow, Inc.
Advanced BBT chart
Glow will track your cycle length, flow, and symptoms, and provide you with insights into your unique cycle patterns.
Cycle Analysis
Comparative Insights
Community support: Glow also has a large and supportive community of users.
Private messaging
Apple Health Integration: Sync data between Glow and Apple Health app.
- Glow home page (Glow)
Your Glow Premium subscription will grant you access to Premium features from all Glow apps–from period to parenting!
Start with a 7-day free trial, then $59.99/yr.
Ad-free
What steps has Glow taken to protect my privacy in Glow Community on Web?
A Family Of Four Apps
Follow your prenatal health
Support your child’s health
25M+ women worldwide have joined the Glow Community
Shared alerts on ovulation day, period start and end dates, and throughout the fertile window
Daily health logs for both female and male partners
- Do I have to pay to use Eve, Glow, Nurture or Glow Baby now? (Glow Help Center)
Glow Premium is completely optional.
- Where does Glow store the data I share? (Glow Help Center)
We store your data in Amazon Web Services (AWS) databases (RDS) using AES-256
- Glow, Google Play listing (US) (Google Play)
The Glow App is intended as an aid in ovulation prediction to facilitate conception ( not to be used for contraception ).
Ovulation Tracker App | Glow
From your first period to post-menopause, Glow is a comprehensive period tracker that adapts to you.
- Attorney General Becerra announces landmark settlement against Glow, Inc. (California Attorney General)
In addition to a $250,000 civil penalty, the settlement includes injunctive terms that require Glow to comply with state consumer protection and privacy laws
Failed to adequately safeguard health information;
Allowed access to user’s information without the user’s consent; and
Glow will also be required to obtain affirmative consent from users prior to sharing or disclosing personal, medical, or sensitive information, and it will be required to allow users to revoke previously granted consent.
- People v. Glow: final judgment and permanent injunction (California Attorney General)
without Upward Labs Holdings, Inc. or Glow, Inc. admitting any liability
- How much does Glow Premium cost? (Glow Help Center)
Annual: $69.99 ($5.83/month *12 months).
- I can’t remember my 4-digit passcode (Glow Help Center)
After you reinstall, sign in with your email and password.
I can't remember my 4 digit passcode
- Is my data encrypted? (Glow Help Center)
Glow uses strong encryption to protect your data, both in transit and at rest
- Can I download my data? (Glow Help Center)
Please reach out to support@glowing.com and our team can send you a CSV file of your data.
- How do I delete my account? (Glow Help Center)
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "Delete Account" option.
Deleting your account will wipe your account data from our system. Your information cannot be restored or recovered.
- I’m having issues with my Apple Watch (Glow Help Center)
If you see "Need Period Data" on your Apple Watch
- How do I add birth control to the app? (Glow Help Center)
To add birth control, your account must be set to “Avoiding pregnancy.”
- What is Glow Premium? (Glow Help Center)
What is Glow Premium?
Advanced Charts and Analysis: Glow offers 20+ charts and analysis features to help users understand their body patterns and health trends throughout their reproductive journey.
- Glow’s Ovulation Tracker app page (Glow)
On Glow Premium, you can access more advanced charts to track your symptoms, BBT, and ovulation test results simultaneously.
On the free version, as on most popular fertility tracking apps, you can access forecasts for your next period and fertile days, symptom logging (mood, cervical mucus, BBT, etc.), discussion forums, and educational articles on reproductive health.
Yes, you can invite your partner via email to track your cycle with you.
- How do I see something I’ve logged in the past? (Glow Help Center)
You can also download a PDF report of your past logs via your More tab > Health Charts & PDF Report
- Offline Data Protection (Glow)
To protect your information, you also won’t be able to access the following features on our apps:
Period, ovulation, and log reminders
PDF data export report
- How do I log this? Can Glow create X log? (Glow Help Center)
At the moment we don't have a way of customizing logs.
In the meantime, you can log this item in the notes feature on Glow.
- Can I import my data from other apps to Glow? (Glow Help Center)
Yes, you can! Glow is connected with some of the world’s top health apps, including:
Apple’s iOS Health app (on all iOS apps)
Google Fit (on all Android apps)
- My OPK analyzer is acting up (Glow Help Center)
My OPK analyzer is acting up!
- Can I track my medications and supplements in Glow? (Glow Help Center)
you can add a new medication or supplement and even set yourself a reminder so you remember to take it!
- What happened with Glow’s 2020 data settlement in California? (Glow Help Center)
We confirmed that the issues had been fixed immediately and that no user data was affected.