Best Contraction Timer Apps in 2026
Quick answer: Contraction Timer IO is the best contraction timer app for most couples because a partner or doula can follow labor live from another phone. Contraction Timer & Counter 9m suits iPhone users who value a huge rating history and iOS 15 support. Pregnancy+ fits readers who want one app for the whole pregnancy.
It's 3 a.m. Contractions are getting closer, your partner is loading the car, and nobody wants to calculate intervals with a stopwatch. A good contraction timer records each start and stop, shows the pattern, and fixes accidental entries.
The apps below range from focused contraction counters to full pregnancy trackers. Our ranking favors easy timing, useful history, sharing, honest pricing, recent support, and controls that still make sense when your attention is elsewhere.
Comparison at a glance
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free version | Price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contraction Timer IO | Live partner and doula sharing | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, and browser tools | Core timing is free; some sharing controls require Pro | Free; $1.99 weekly or $5.99 Plus listed | Private live family link |
| Contraction Timer & Counter 9m | Simple timing with a large rating history | iPhone and iPad; check the listing for Android | Basic timing is free; exact limits aren't stated | Free; $2.99 and $5.99 purchases listed | 69,312 US App Store ratings |
| Contraction Timer & Tracker by Going Merry | Visual history and labor preparation | iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch | Free download; exact free limits aren't stated | Free; weekly and yearly plans listed | Intensity colors, notes, and graphs |
| Storky | A focused timer with shareable summaries | iPhone and iPad | Free download; check the current limits | Free; $2.99 Remove Ads purchase listed | Send a contraction overview to your care team |
| Full Term | Older iPhones and custom alerts | iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch | Basic timing and pregnancy tools are free | Free; $0.99 ad-removal purchases listed | Runs on iOS 11 or later |
| Pregnancy+ | Pregnancy tracking in one app | iPhone and iPad | Free download; check whether the timer requires payment | Free; plans from $3.59 weekly to $34.99 yearly | Contraction timer beside pregnancy planning tools |
| BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker | Pregnancy information and community | iPhone and iPad | Free app with a contraction timer listed | Free; no in-app purchases listed | Pregnancy classes, community, and week-by-week content |
Prices and ratings from the US App Store and Google Play, checked October 2026. Store prices change; the listing is the final word.
How we picked
We read the US App Store listings for all seven apps, plus the supplied Google Play listing and developer site for Contraction Timer IO. We checked store rating counts, update dates, device requirements, descriptions, and purchase menus in October 2026. No separate pricing page or help document was used to fill an unknown limit.
Dedicated timers rank above broad pregnancy apps when their controls, history, and sharing are better suited to labor. Ratings helped us judge the size of each app's store record, but they didn't decide the order by themselves.
- Start and stop controls must be easy to understand.
- The app must show duration and spacing.
- History should support corrections or missed entries.
- Sharing, export, offline use, and quick access earn extra weight.
- Prices, paywalls, device requirements, and update dates affect the ranking.
Contraction Timer IO
Contraction Timer IO is a focused contraction timer with live sharing. No account is required for basic timing.
The deciding feature is the private family link. A partner, doula, or relative can watch contractions update in a browser from another phone; Pro also lets a partner control the timer remotely. That is more useful than sending a finished log when your partner is parking the car or contacting the birth team. The app also records duration, start-to-start frequency, rest intervals, and your intensity rating. Core timing works offline, while Lock Screen controls and Apple Watch support reduce phone handling.
The US App Store record is small beside the biggest rivals: 4.82 stars from 88 ratings, compared with 69,312 ratings for 9m. We still put Contraction Timer IO first because the live browser link, offline timing, no-account setup, widgets, and ad-free design address more of the actual labor situation. It was updated on October 10, 2026.
- A private link lets family follow contractions in real time.
- Basic timing works offline and requires no account.
- Apple Watch, Lock Screen, and Home Screen controls are listed.
- Google Play lists 50K+ installs.
- Live sharing needs an internet connection.
- The iPhone version requires iOS 17.0 or later.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; Plus costs $5.99 and the listed weekly purchase costs $1.99.
- Platforms
- iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Android; browser access is available for the online timer and family followers.
Pick Contraction Timer IO if another person needs to follow contractions live or help run the timer.
Contraction Timer IO contraction timer app for iPhoneContraction Timer IO contraction tracker for AndroidContraction Timer IO listing on AIACI
Contraction Timer & Counter 9m
Contraction Timer & Counter 9m is a dedicated one-button contraction counter. Tap at the beginning, tap at the end, and the app calculates duration and frequency. The listing also says it uses those patterns for labor-stage and hospital notifications.
Its strongest evidence is the App Store record: 4.79 stars from 69,312 US ratings as of October 2026. It has been listed since 2014, supports iOS 15 or later, and comes in 32 languages. Those points make 9m the better choice for an older iPhone or for someone who needs a language that Contraction Timer IO doesn't support.
There are tradeoffs. The App Store purchase menu lists $2.99 and $5.99 products without clearly explaining every billing period or free-tier limit. The official description also doesn't identify a live browser link for a partner or doula. For most couples, that sharing gap keeps it in second place despite its much larger rating count.
- One-button timing keeps the core task simple.
- The US App Store has 69,312 ratings.
- It supports iOS 15 and 32 languages.
- The current free-tier limits aren't stated clearly.
- The listing doesn't describe live browser-based sharing.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; the App Store lists $2.99 and $5.99 purchases. Check the checkout screen for billing terms.
- Platforms
- iPhone and iPad are verified; Android availability has been reported, but check the current listing.
Pick Contraction Timer & Counter 9m if you want a focused iPhone timer with years of store history and broad language support.
Contraction Timer & Tracker (Going Merry)
Contraction Timer & Tracker by Going Merry combines one-tap timing with visual history. It calculates duration, frequency, and rest intervals, then adds color-coded intensity, notes, graphs, and editable entries. An Apple Watch app is included.
The full-screen mode is a sensible detail during labor. Its history also has more context than a bare list: you can record how strong a contraction felt, review averages, and correct a bad tap. A hospital bag checklist and pain-relief exercise instructions give it a useful niche for someone who wants preparation material inside the same app.
The weak point is pricing clarity. The App Store lists weekly plans at $1.99 or $2.99, yearly plans at $19.99 or $29.99, and other purchases at $3.99 or $39.99. The exact free limits aren't stated. It also requires iOS 17 and lists only one language, so 9m is better for language choice and older iPhones.
- Color-coded intensity and graphs make patterns easy to review.
- Entries can be edited or deleted.
- It has Apple Watch support and full-screen controls.
- The purchase menu is hard to interpret.
- It requires iOS 17 and lists one language.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; weekly plans cost $1.99 or $2.99, and yearly plans cost $19.99 or $29.99. Other purchases are also listed.
- Platforms
- iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch; Android and web versions are unknown.
Pick Going Merry if visual intensity tracking and editable notes are more useful to you than live family access.
Storky
Storky is a focused iPhone contraction tracker app. Its main screen starts and stops a contraction with one button, while the history records contraction length and the interval between entries.
Storky's useful extra is summary sharing. You can send an overview through email or another app, which may be enough when a doctor, midwife, or birth assistant wants to review the pattern. It also includes short explanations of contraction timing and can notify you when the recorded pattern may warrant contacting your care team. The App Store showed 4.85 stars from 1,927 ratings, and the app was updated on October 6, 2026.
There is some store-page ambiguity. The description says the app has no ads, yet the purchase menu lists a $2.99 Remove Ads product. The exact free limit isn't confirmed either. Check the current listing before labor if uninterrupted free use is your deciding factor.
- The timer and history stay focused on contractions.
- Summaries can be sent through email or another app.
- It was updated in October 2026.
- The ad description and purchase menu appear inconsistent.
- Current free-tier limits aren't stated.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; a $2.99 Remove Ads purchase is listed.
- Platforms
- iPhone and iPad; Android, web, and Apple Watch availability are unknown.
Pick Storky if you want a focused timer and a summary you can send to your care team.
Full Term
Full Term is an older contraction timer that still covers the basics well. One-button timing records the start, duration, and frequency of contractions. You can also edit entries, add missed contractions, record intensity, and attach notes.
Compatibility is its best reason to download it in 2026. Full Term runs on iOS 11 or later, while several newer picks require iOS 17. The listing also includes Apple Watch support, custom contraction alerts, graphs, email export, a kick counter, and a pregnancy weight tracker. At $0.99 to remove ads, its listed paid option is cheaper than the subscriptions elsewhere on this page.
The concern is maintenance. Full Term's last listed update was September 25, 2019, even though the US App Store still showed 4.75 stars from 7,226 ratings. I'd choose it for an older device, then confirm that every function you need works before relying on it during labor.
- It supports iOS 11 or later.
- History supports edits, notes, intensity, and missed entries.
- Custom alerts and Apple Watch support are listed.
- The last listed update was in September 2019.
- Only one language is listed.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; $0.99 purchases for ad removal or app support are listed.
- Platforms
- iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Pick Full Term if you have an older iPhone or want a low-cost timer with custom alerts.
Pregnancy+
Pregnancy+ is a broad pregnancy app with a contraction timer among its labor tools. It also has week-by-week development information, 3D fetal models, a kick counter, a due-date calculator, and planning tools for a hospital bag and birth plan.
That wider scope is the reason to choose it. If Pregnancy+ already holds your appointments, pregnancy notes, and preparation lists, using its built-in contraction timer avoids another download. Its App Store record is substantial: 4.85 stars from 76,799 US ratings as of October 2026. The app was updated in August 2026 and supports 14 languages.
It isn't the strongest dedicated contraction counter here. The supplied listing doesn't explain the timer's editing, offline, export, or partner-sharing controls in enough detail, and it doesn't state whether every timer function is free. Download it for the pregnancy package; choose Contraction Timer IO or Going Merry when labor-specific controls decide the purchase.
- It puts pregnancy tracking and contraction timing in one app.
- The App Store lists 14 languages.
- Hospital bag and birth-plan tools are included.
- The listing gives few details about the contraction timer.
- The timer's current free limits are unknown.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free download; listed purchases include $3.59 weekly, $5.99 monthly, and $34.99 yearly plans.
- Platforms
- iPhone and iPad; the verified listing requires iOS 16.4 or later.
Pick Pregnancy+ if you want one pregnancy app and only need a secondary contraction timer.
BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker
BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker is a pregnancy and parenting app with a contraction timer listed for late pregnancy and labor. Its main draw is the surrounding content: week-by-week tracking, development videos, childbirth classes, kick counting, and birth-month community groups.
BabyCenter has the largest US App Store record in this comparison, with 4.89 stars from 298,423 ratings in October 2026. It was also updated on October 16, 2026. The store lists the app as free and shows no in-app purchases, which is appealing if you want pregnancy information without sorting through a subscription menu.
The contraction timer itself receives little detail in the listing. There is no confirmed description of intensity tracking, editable entries, offline use, exports, or live partner access. BabyCenter is better than the dedicated timers for classes and community; it ranks last here because this page judges the labor timer first.
- The app is listed as free with no in-app purchases.
- It includes pregnancy classes and community groups.
- The App Store showed 298,423 US ratings.
- The listing gives few details about the contraction timer controls.
- The iPhone version requires iOS 17.
- Price
- Checked October 2026: Free; no in-app purchases were listed.
- Platforms
- iPhone and iPad are verified; check the current store for other platforms.
Pick BabyCenter if pregnancy information, classes, and community are more important than a specialized contraction tracker.
Contraction Timer IO vs Contraction Timer & Counter 9m
Both apps handle the basic start-and-stop job. The choice comes down to live sharing and quick access on Contraction Timer IO versus 9m's much longer App Store history, lower iOS requirement, and wider language list.
| Point | Contraction Timer IO | Rival |
|---|---|---|
| Live sharing | Creates a private browser link for a partner, doula, or family member; remote control requires Pro. | The official listing doesn't describe a live browser link. |
| Core measurements | Tracks duration, start-to-start frequency, rest interval, and reported intensity. | Tracks contraction duration and frequency from one-button taps. |
| Offline use | Core contraction timing works offline. | Offline support isn't confirmed in the supplied listing. |
| Fast access | Apple Watch, Lock Screen, and Home Screen controls are listed. | The listing doesn't confirm Apple Watch or Lock Screen controls. |
| Compatibility | The iPhone app needs iOS 17; Android is also listed. | Runs on iOS 15 and supports 32 languages. |
| Paid options | $1.99 weekly and $5.99 Plus purchases are identified. | $2.99 and $5.99 purchases are listed, but all billing terms aren't identified. |
Contraction Timer IO wins when someone outside the room needs to watch the pattern live. A private browser link is more immediate than reading times aloud or sending a completed summary, and offline timing remains available if service drops.
9m wins on iPhone compatibility, language choice, and the size of its store history. Pick 9m for an iPhone stuck on iOS 15 or 16. Pick Contraction Timer IO when live partner access, widgets, or Apple Watch timing will be used.
What to look for in a contraction timer app
Start and stop controls
Every contraction timer depends on manual taps. Look for one large control that changes state clearly, because a late start or stop changes the recorded duration. Lock Screen and Apple Watch controls can help when your phone is across the room. A full-screen mode is another useful choice if small buttons are hard to hit during a contraction.
Duration, frequency, and editing
Duration is how long a contraction lasts. Frequency is usually measured from the start of one contraction to the start of the next; the rest interval runs from the end of one to the beginning of another. Choose an app that labels these values and lets you edit, delete, or add an entry after a missed tap.
Sharing and offline timing
Decide who needs the record. Email export may be enough for a later conversation with your provider, while a live link is better for a partner or doula following from another location. Offline timing is useful in parking garages, while riding between floors, and in hospital rooms with poor reception. Live remote updates will still need an internet connection.
Price and phone compatibility
Install the app before labor and inspect the payment screen. Some free downloads don't state how many contractions can be recorded before payment, while weekly subscriptions can cost more than a small one-time purchase. Check the required iOS version too: Full Term supports iOS 11, 9m supports iOS 15, and several newer apps require iOS 17.
Alerts, safety, and privacy
A 5-1-1 alert is based on your taps and a common timing pattern. It cannot examine you or account for your provider's instructions. Call your maternity team about water breaking, bleeding, severe pain, a planned cesarean, uncertainty, or any warning sign they gave you. Before entering personal details, read the current store privacy disclosure and the developer's privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for in a contraction timer app?
Look for clear start and stop controls, labeled duration and spacing, and history that lets you edit, delete, or add missed entries. Also compare offline use, sharing or export, phone compatibility, and the payment screen.
Should I pay for a contraction timer app?
Free downloads often cover basic timing, but some listings do not state recording limits or whether every timer feature is included. Check the payment screen before labor, since a weekly subscription can cost more than a small one-time purchase.
Are contraction timer apps accurate?
Contraction timers calculate patterns from your manual taps, so a late start or stop changes the recorded duration. Choose one that allows edits, deletions, and missed entries so you can correct errors.
Do contraction timer apps work offline, and are they private?
Contraction Timer IO offers offline core timing and does not require an account for basic use, but live sharing needs internet access. Before entering personal details in any app, read its current store privacy disclosure and privacy policy.
Should I get a contraction timer for Android or iPhone?
For Android, Contraction Timer IO is the verified option in this guide; on iPhone, check system requirements because Contraction Timer & Counter 9m needs iOS 15, while Full Term supports iOS 11. Several newer iPhone apps require iOS 17.
Which contraction timer app is best if I want pregnancy tracking too?
Pregnancy+ fits buyers who want contraction timing with week-by-week information, a kick counter, and planning tools. BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker is a better fit if classes, community groups, and pregnancy content are more important than specialized timer controls.
How does a contraction timer app work?
Tap when a contraction begins and tap again when it ends. The app calculates its duration and the start-to-start frequency, and it may also show the rest interval between contractions.
Our recommendation
Choose Contraction Timer IO if you want a dedicated contraction timer with offline recording, Apple Watch and Lock Screen access, plus a live link for your partner or doula. That sharing tool is the main reason it ranks first.
Choose 9m for an older iPhone or wider language support, and Pregnancy+ if you want one app for the full pregnancy.