Best Contraction Timer App in 2026

Bump Pulse is built for the moment timing starts. You can start and stop from the Lock Screen, a widget, Siri, or a watch, and the live view keeps the timer visible without opening the phone. A partner can follow the timeline live, which gives a support person a clear job during labor.

Timing itself is free with no limit in the sources we checked, while a one-time purchase of $5.99 opens full history, notes, intensity, and partner start and stop. The free timeline shows the newest 30 contractions. For most users, that free core plus live sharing is the strongest combination on this list.

Contraction Timer IO is the most complete timing system here. It works on the web and on phones and watches, calculates duration and frequency, alerts when a pattern matches a rule such as 5-1-1, and lets you share a live family link or a doctor report. That report can help a clinician review recent timing quickly.

The breadth is also the weakness. With many features and in-app purchases, you should test the exact features you plan to use before labor, and confirm which ones are free. If you want one timer that works on any device and shares well, this is the safest all-round pick.

Labora focuses on one thing: starting the timer fast. Lock Screen and Apple Watch controls mean you do not need to open the phone or find the app during a contraction. The listing describes it as completely free, with no ads and no subscriptions, plus a breathing guide and editable entries.

The limit is platform. Labora is iPhone only, so an Android household needs another pick. It also lacks the broader pregnancy tools found in some rivals. If you use an iPhone and want a free, focused timer, Labora is hard to beat.

Labor Rhythm suits users who want privacy and simplicity. Every contraction is stored on the phone, with no account, no ads, and no analytics, and the app works fully offline, including in a hospital basement with poor signal. One big button starts and stops timing, and intensity can be marked as mild, moderate, or strong.

Sharing is limited to a summary, not a live view, and the app is iPhone only. If privacy and offline use matter more than live sharing, Labor Rhythm is the calmest option here. Test it in a practice session so the big button feels familiar before labor.

Pattern is useful when you do not want to install anything yet. The web app times contractions with one tap, supports manual entry, computes rolling averages, and alerts on the 5-1-1 pattern. That makes it a good backup timer on any device with a browser.

The trade-off is that mobile apps were listed as coming soon, so phone use means a browser tab, not a native app with Lock Screen controls. Pricing was listed as 7 days free, then $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Use Pattern as a backup or a first timer, and keep a native app ready for labor itself.

Freya is different from the plain timers above. It coaches breathing through each surge, offers guided relaxations and affirmations between surges, and tracks surge frequency and duration. For users following a hypnobirthing approach, that coaching can help them stay focused during labor.

Freya is not a plain free timer, and its breathing style will not suit everyone. Some users want only numbers on a screen, and Freya adds audio and visuals that can distract. Try the breathing pattern in pregnancy first, and decide whether coaching helps or gets in the way.

Storky is a straightforward timer with a helpful extra: a stork indicator that reacts to your pattern and suggests when to consider going to hospital, based on rules you can change. That visual cue can be reassuring when you are unsure whether the pattern is changing.

The first run feels busier than Labora or Labor Rhythm, and ads appear early, with removal listed at $2.99 in comparisons. Sharing sends a summary rather than a live view. Storky suits users who want simple timing plus a clear hospital timing cue, and who do not mind a few setup screens.

Contraction Timer & Counter 9m is a long-running choice on both iPhone and Android. Tap once to start, tap again to stop, and the app tracks duration, spacing, and hospital timing guidance. That cross-platform availability helps when partners use different phones.

The design looks dated, and the free version includes ads, which can be distracting during labor. Some features need in-app purchases, listed from $0.99 to $11.99 per item in one review. It is a reliable basic timer, but Bump Pulse and Contraction Timer IO offer cleaner sharing and clearer screens.