pregnancy app comparison
Elara vs BabyCenter.
Last checked on the US App Store
At a glance
| Elara | BabyCenter | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by (App Store seller) | Declan John Nanton (Elara team) | Everyday Health, Inc. |
| Price model (US) | Free download; optional Premium subscription | Free; no in-app purchases listed on the US page |
| Partner / sharing feature | Partner mode in the same app: the partner joins with an 8-character code (QR, share link or typed) and signs in with Apple or Google. One partner per pregnancy. | Not stated in the listing |
| What the partner sees | Current week and baby size, belly and ultrasound photos, 50+ weekly support ideas, the wishlist, pushes for new appointments and the daily kick goal. Not shared: journal, mood, kick log, contractions, symptoms. | Not stated |
| Kick counter | Yes, with Live Activity | Yes (“Count your baby’s kicks”) |
| Contraction timer | Yes (5-1-1 rule), with Live Activity | Yes (“Time contractions during late pregnancy and labor”) |
| Apple Watch | No Apple Watch app | Not listed |
| Ads label on the App Store | No advertising (no ad SDK in the app) | “Contains Advertising” |
| Languages | 25+ | 4 |
| Platforms | iPhone only (iOS 18 or later) | iOS and Android |
| US rating (27 September 2026) | 4.75 from 4 ratings — a new, small app | 4.89 from 297,235 ratings |
App Store names: Elara: Pregnancy Tracker; BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker.
Partner experience
BabyCenter’s US listing does not describe a partner or sharing feature, so we list it as not stated. Your partner can of course install BabyCenter separately and set the same due date.
In Elara the mother creates an 8-character code in Settings → Partner. It is shown as a QR code, can be sent as a link or typed in, and expires after 15 minutes (a new one appears automatically). Your partner installs Elara on their iPhone, signs in with Apple or Google and enters the code. From then on they see the current week and baby size, belly and ultrasound photos, a wishlist they can tick off, and 50+ weekly ideas for how to help. They also get pushes when you add an appointment, reach your daily kick goal or post a new photo. Your journal, mood, kick log, contractions and symptoms are not shared.
Tracking tools
BabyCenter’s listing includes “Count your baby’s kicks” and “Time contractions during late pregnancy and labor”. Elara has both tools too, with a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and a contraction timer that uses the 5-1-1 rule. Neither app lists an Apple Watch app on the US store.
Content and community
This is where BabyCenter is strongest. It invites you to “Join your Birth Club to meet people with due dates in the same month”, has a free loyalty programme with brand discounts, and has about 297,000 US ratings (4.89). Elara has no community or forum: it is a private space for two people, with week-by-week guidance, a journal and tools. Elara had 4 US ratings when we checked.
Privacy and ads
BabyCenter’s listing carries Apple’s “Contains Advertising” label, which is how many free, content-rich apps are funded. Elara contains no advertising and no ad SDK. Journal entries, kick and contraction sessions, symptoms and health logs are stored only on your iPhone. A small profile (name, due date) is kept in Elara’s Firebase account so partner mode and notifications work, and shared photos and the wishlist sync while a partner is linked. The app uses product analytics (Firebase Analytics, PostHog), so we do not describe it as tracking-free.
Price
BabyCenter is free and no in-app purchases are listed on the US page. Elara is a free download with an optional Premium subscription. The partner does not need a separate subscription: their access is included while the mother has Premium or a trial. Without it, the partner gets a one-time 5-minute preview, then the partner app pauses until the mother subscribes.
Choose BabyCenter if
- You want a big community of parents due the same month
- You want a completely free app with no subscription
- You or your partner use Android
Choose Elara if
- You want your partner linked to your pregnancy on their own iPhone
- You prefer no advertising
- You want the kick counter and contraction timer on your Lock Screen as Live Activities
How we compare apps: see the methodology in best pregnancy apps for couples in 2026, or read how Elara partner mode works.
Common questions
Is BabyCenter free?
Yes. BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker is free and its US listing shows no in-app purchases. It carries Apple’s “Contains Advertising” label.
Does BabyCenter have a partner mode?
A partner or sharing feature is not stated in BabyCenter’s US App Store listing.
Does Elara have a community?
No. Elara is a private app for you and one linked partner, without forums or public profiles.