Flo ⭐⭐⭐
Key Takeaways
Period & Ovulation Tracking: Flo uses AI and user input to predict menstrual and ovulation cycles, offering extensive symptom tracking, though its accuracy still depends on regular use and individual variation.
Data Privacy: After a major privacy controversy, Flo has introduced Anonymous Mode and now claims GDPR compliance—yet concerns linger over third-party analytics.
User Experience: Visually sleek and user-friendly, but increasingly commercialised with upsells to premium features that may detract from trust.
Verdict: Flo is improving and still widely used, but it walks a fine line between education and exploitation, especially given its past issues with transparency.
Medical Integrity
Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Flo provides content verified by medical professionals, and it offers detailed cycle tracking with a wide range of user inputs.
Doctor’s Note: While the app includes doctor-reviewed material, it lacks depth and clinical nuance—its medical credibility is surface-level rather than foundational.
Ethical Standards
Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Flo’s ethics were called into question after sharing sensitive user data with third parties without fully informed consent. Updates have been made, but the initial breach still casts a shadow.
Doctor’s Note: Ethical transparency is non-negotiable in women’s health—past actions have undermined trust, and rebuilding that trust requires ongoing proof, not promises.
Data Privacy & Protection
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Flo now includes privacy-enhancing tools such as Anonymous Mode and claims compliance with data laws like GDPR. However, earlier breaches resulted in regulatory investigation and settlement.
Doctor’s Note: Improvements are visible and welcome, but the fact that user data was once vulnerable means users must still approach with caution.
UX & Accessibility
Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
The design is modern and appealing, with intuitive navigation and easy symptom logging, but constant nudges toward paid content can overwhelm the experience.
Doctor’s Note: Flo is accessible for many, but there's a noticeable gap in inclusive design—particularly for neurodiverse users or those with impairments.
Behavioral Impact
Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Flo leverages behavioural nudging to drive usage and conversion to premium, which may cause stress or misinformation for users expecting medical-grade accuracy.
Doctor’s Note: Apps that use health-related fear or urgency to upsell services risk harming user trust and wellbeing—it’s marketing dressed as medicine.
Final Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/ 5)
Verdict
Flo is one of the most well-known women’s health apps, with real improvements in privacy and user experience. But its commercial priorities and data-sharing history mean that users should remain alert and discerning. It’s a solid starting point—but not gold-standard.
Review Notes
*This Review is based on the app’s performance as of Review Date: [07/04/2025]. If the app undergoes significant updates or improvements, the developers are welcome to reach out for a re-evaluation, which may lead to a higher score and potentially a SheRanked Doctor’s Approval Badge
Reviewed by: Dr C Davies, SheRanked Doctor-led Review