Comparison

Dot vs Cycle Cipher

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dot

Features
Read full description

Dot is a private period tracker and pill reminder for iPhone and iPad. Keep your cycle calendar, symptoms, medication routine, and optional fertility observations together in one calm place. One upfront purchase includes every feature. No subscriptions, ads, tracking SDKs, or Dot account. A LITTLE CLARITY, EVERY DAY โ€ข Record a period start or end, bleeding, a favorite symptom, or a displayed dose from Today. โ€ข Use Undo when you need it. Review and correct earlier entries in your calendar. โ€ข Choose periods, pills, or both, with the same four simple tabs on iPhone and iPad. YOUR CYCLE, IN YOUR OWN WORDS โ€ข Log flow, custom symptoms, severity, daily impact, duration, and personal notes. โ€ข Keep spotting, an explicitly recorded no-flow day, and missing entries distinct. โ€ข Record changes such as hormonal contraception, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, or perimenopause. โ€ข Turn period estimates on if useful. See the recorded history behind an estimated range, exclude individual cycles, or enter your usual range when there is not enough history. PILL ROUTINES THAT FIT YOUR SCHEDULE โ€ข Set daily, selected-weekday, monthly, one-time, every-few-days, elapsed-interval, or pill-pack routines. Log as-needed medication separately. โ€ข Enter your prescribed active pills, placebos, planned breaks, or continuous routine. โ€ข Record actual intake times, snooze a reminder, mark a skipped dose, and review your history. โ€ข Pause or archive a routine, adjust your supply, and set a refill threshold. โ€ข Check reminder permissions and upcoming coverage in Settings. OPTIONAL FERTILITY OBSERVATIONS โ€ข Chart basal body temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, with measurement times and disturbance notes. โ€ข Log cervical mucus, ovulation test results, and pregnancy test results, including multiple tests in one day. โ€ข See gaps where observations are missing. Charts do not confirm ovulation or identify safe days. PRIVATE BY DESIGN โ€ข Start with local storage and log offline. Apple Health and iCloud connections are optional. โ€ข Protect access with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. Choose discreet details for reminders and widgets. โ€ข Create an encrypted backup with your own passphrase, export CSV records, or make a date-selected PDF for an appointment. Personal notes are optional in reports. Dot is a personal recording tool, not medical advice or a method of contraception. Follow your prescriber's directions. Estimates are uncertain, and reminder delivery depends on permissions, device settings, and system behavior; some schedules need periodic renewal. Apple device backups follow your device settings separately from Dot's iCloud sync.

About

Cycle Cipher

Track your menstrual cycle and health details privately on your device. Log symptoms, moods, and personal health history without creating an account or seeing ads. Secure your data with optional PIN protection and create encrypted backups.

Highlights
  • Local-first data storage
  • Account-free tracking
  • Log period flow, symptoms, and moods
  • Calendar view of cycle history
  • Optional PIN and device authentication
  • Password-encrypted backups
  • On-device reminders
Read full description

Cycle Cipher is a private, local-first period and cycle tracker. Log the details that matter to you without creating an account, seeing ads, or sending health entries to the developer. TRACK YOUR CYCLE - Record period flow and daily notes. - Log symptoms, moods, sexual activity, and basal body temperature. - Review your history in a clear calendar. - See cycle and period-length summaries based on the data you enter. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - Health records stay in the app's local container. - Optional PIN and device authentication protect access. - No advertising, analytics, accounts, or developer-operated cloud sync. - Create password-encrypted backups and CSV copies when you choose. REMINDERS ON YOUR TERMS Choose optional on-device reminders and manage notification permission at any time. Cycle estimates are based only on past entries and may be early, late, or unavailable. SENSITIVE HEALTH HISTORY Privately record pregnancy tests, pregnancy outcomes, provider visits, contraception changes, and related dates. These entries are personal records, not medical guidance. FREE FOR EVERYONE Every feature is available for free. Optional, repeatable tips are processed by Apple and never unlock features or change app behavior. Cycle Cipher does not diagnose conditions, provide treatment, or replace a qualified healthcare professional. Fertility and ovulation estimates are approximate and must not be used as contraception. Seek urgent medical help when you are concerned about severe or emergency symptoms.

Screenshots

Dot4 screens
Cycle Cipher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cycle Cipher at Free against Dot's $4.99. Cycle Cipher also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). Dot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#171 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Cycle Cipher is free to download; Dot costs $4.99 up front. Cycle Cipher sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Dot asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dot ships an update every 4 months, Cycle Cipher fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 4 level
Dot versus Cycle Cipher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDotCycle Cipher
Price$4.99Free โ€” better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
Monetizationโ€”Free
Best chart rank#171 โ€” betterโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size10 MB4 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGal ItachOMAR DANIEL GRAZIANO

In-app purchases

None

Dot

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Cycle Cipher

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$1.99
  • Large Tip$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Generous Tip$5.99

Questions

Is Dot free?
Dot costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cycle Cipher free?
Cycle Cipher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Dot or Cycle Cipher have ads?
Neither Dot nor Cycle Cipher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dot or Cycle Cipher?
Dot ships an update every 4 months, and Cycle Cipher fortnightly. Most recently, Dot was updated on October 25, 2026 and Cycle Cipher on October 25, 2026.

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