Drip vs Clue: Open Source On-Device Tracker vs GDPR-Compliant Server App

Drip vs Clue vs Floriva: Platform and Privacy
Feature	Drip	Clue	Floriva
iOS	No	Yes	Yes
Android	Yes	Yes	Yes
On-device storage	Yes	No	Yes
Account required	No	Yes	No
Open source	Yes	No	No
Cross-device sync	No	Yes	Yes (E2E encrypted)
GDPR compliant	N/A	Yes	N/A — no server data
Data can be subpoenaed	No	Yes	No
Price	Free	Free / $9.99/mo	$2.99/mo

The privacy spectrum in period tracking

Period trackers span a spectrum from fully server-dependent (Flo, Glow) to fully on-device (Drip). Clue sits closer to the private end of the server-based category. Drip is at the fully private end.

Understanding where each app sits on this spectrum requires understanding what “privacy” means in this context: not just whether an app sells your data commercially, but whether the data is structurally accessible to third parties at all.

Drip: architectural privacy, limited scope

Drip is open source and Android-only. The code is on GitHub — you can read exactly what it does. Data is stored locally on the device. No account, no sync, no server. From a privacy standpoint, this is as strong as it gets: there is nothing to subpoena because there is nothing on a server.

The trade-off is scope. Drip covers basic cycle logging. It doesn’t have the depth of symptom tracking, mood logging, or health insights that Clue offers. And if you’re on iOS, Drip isn’t an option.

Clue: best-in-class for server-based trackers

Clue is the most privacy-conscious of the major commercial period trackers. Berlin-based, GDPR-compliant, no ads, no documented enforcement history. The free tier is genuinely functional.

The limitation is structural: Clue requires an account, and your data lives on Clue’s servers. GDPR limits what Clue can do with your data commercially, but a German court order or a US legal request (depending on jurisdiction and data sharing agreements) could compel access.

Cross-device sync: the gap both leave open

Neither Drip nor Clue handles the cross-device problem in a way that preserves on-device privacy. Drip has no sync at all. Clue syncs via its servers — trading privacy for convenience.

Floriva’s approach is opt-in encrypted sync: data is encrypted on your device before transmission, with a key that Floriva doesn’t hold. You get cross-device continuity without adding a server-side data exposure risk.

Neither feels private enough?

Floriva stores everything on your device. No data sold, no account required.

Verdict

Drip wins on architectural privacy: open source, on-device, no account. Clue wins on features, platform coverage, and cross-device sync. If you're on Android and privacy is the top priority, Drip or Floriva are stronger choices. If you're on iOS or need cross-device sync with a reasonable privacy posture, Clue is the best server-based option.

PROS & CONS

Drip

Pros

Open source and auditable
On-device only — cannot be subpoenaed
No account, no ads, no data selling

Cons

Android-only
Very limited feature set
No sync or backup between devices

PROS & CONS

Clue

Pros

iOS and Android
Strong feature set with research-backed cycle tracking
GDPR compliance, no ad-supported model

Cons

Server-based storage — subpoena risk exists
Account required
Premium tier needed for full features

PROS & CONS

Floriva

Pros

On-device storage on both iOS and Android
No account required
Opt-in encrypted cross-device sync
Auditable privacy model

Cons

$2.99/mo — not free
Not open source

What is Drip period tracker?

Drip is a free, open-source period tracker for Android. It stores all data on your device with no account required and no server transmission. The source code is publicly available, which means the data handling can be independently audited. Drip's main limitations are that it is Android-only and has a minimal feature set compared to commercial trackers.

Is Clue private enough for sensitive health data?

Clue has a better privacy track record than most commercial period trackers. It is GDPR-compliant, Berlin-based, has no ad-supported model on the free tier, and has not faced FTC enforcement actions like Flo or Premom. However, Clue stores data server-side. GDPR protects against commercial data misuse but does not prevent law enforcement access via court order. For users in states with abortion restrictions, this distinction matters.

Can I use Drip on iPhone?

No. Drip is Android-only. iPhone users looking for on-device, account-free period tracking should consider Euki (free, iOS + Android) or Floriva ($2.99/mo, iOS + Android with optional encrypted sync).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Drip period tracker still active?

Drip is an active open-source project, though development velocity is lower than commercial apps. The codebase is maintained and the app works. For users whose priority is auditable, open-source privacy, Drip remains a viable option for Android.

Does Clue require an account?

Yes. Clue requires an email account to use the app. This links your cycle data to your identity on Clue's servers. This is the structural reason Clue's data can be accessed via legal process, despite its GDPR compliance and clean commercial data handling record.

What period tracker is best for Android?

For Android users prioritizing privacy, Drip (open source, free, on-device) and Floriva ($2.99/mo, on-device with optional encrypted sync) are the strongest options. Clue is the best server-based choice for Android with its clean enforcement record and GDPR compliance. Flo is the most feature-rich free option but has a documented history of data sharing violations.

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