pregnancy app comparison
Elara vs What to Expect.
Last checked on the US App Store
At a glance
| Elara | What to Expect | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 or on whattoexpect.com/mobile-app |
| 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 (log kick counts) |
| Contraction timer | Yes (5-1-1 rule), with Live Activity | Yes (“Contraction counter”) |
| Apple Watch | No Apple Watch app | Yes (watchOS 8) |
| Ads label on the App Store | No advertising (no ad SDK in the app) | “Contains Advertising” |
| Languages | 25+ | 1 (English) |
| Platforms | iPhone only (iOS 18 or later) | iOS and Android |
| US rating (27 September 2026) | 4.75 from 4 ratings — a new, small app | 4.87 from 379,590 ratings |
App Store names: Elara: Pregnancy Tracker; Pregnancy Baby Tracker - WTE.
Partner experience
We found no partner or dad feature described in What to Expect’s US listing or on its mobile-app page, so we list it as not stated.
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
What to Expect lets you log kick counts, has a contraction counter that tracks frequency and duration, offers a twin mode, and supports Apple Watch (watchOS 8). Elara has a kick counter and a 5-1-1 contraction timer, both as Live Activities, plus widgets for the week, baby and kicks. Elara has no Apple Watch app and no twin mode.
Content and community
What to Expect describes daily pregnancy tracking, has a community, and about 380,000 US ratings (4.87). It is English only. Elara offers week-by-week guidance, a private journal and a Memory Book PDF, in 25+ languages, but no community. It is new, with 4 US ratings when checked.
Privacy and ads
What to Expect’s listing carries Apple’s “Contains Advertising” label. 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
What to Expect describes itself as a free app, and no in-app purchases are listed on its 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 What to Expect if
- You are expecting twins (twin mode)
- You want a community and lots of daily content
- You want Apple Watch support or use Android
Choose Elara if
- You want your partner linked on their own iPhone with weekly ideas and a wishlist
- You want no advertising
- You need a language other than English
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 What to Expect free?
Yes. Its listing describes a free app and shows no in-app purchases on the US page. It carries Apple’s “Contains Advertising” label.
Does What to Expect have a partner app?
A partner or dad feature is not stated in its US App Store listing or its mobile-app page.
Does Elara support twins?
Elara does not have a dedicated twin mode. What to Expect does.