Some pregnancy and period apps sell data, and many more share it with advertising and analytics partners in ways that can feel similar. Free apps usually have to make money somewhere, and data is a common source. Practices vary widely between apps, so the honest answer is: it depends on the app, and it is worth checking before you trust one.
If an app is free and polished, the work behind it is paid for somehow. For many consumer health apps, part of that money comes from data: showing targeted ads, sending usage information to analytics services, or sharing data with advertising and marketing partners. None of this is automatically sinister, but it is rarely as visible to you as it should be.
The word people fixate on is "selling," but the more common and more slippery practice is "sharing." From your side, data flowing to an ad network can feel the same whether or not money changed hands directly. Regulators have, in the past, taken action against a period-tracking app for sharing sensitive information with large platforms despite privacy promises, which is exactly why reading the fine print matters.
You do not need to be a lawyer. A few words in a privacy policy tell you most of what you need to know.
We will be direct: HiDoula does not run on your data. We are a paid tool for doulas, not an ad-supported app, so we do not need to monetize what you write. Your labor view, birth plan, and messages are encrypted on your device before they leave it, so even we cannot read them, and your space is shared only with the people you invite.
That is the whole business model, stated plainly. If you want the longer version, read how we handle your data, or see a fairer roundup of privacy-minded apps with HiDoula included on merit.
HiDoula does not run on your data. Your plan, timing, and messages are encrypted on your device before they leave it. See how we handle your data.