Google invests in period tracker Flo and plans women’s health wearables

Google has taken a stake in Flo Health, the period-tracking app, the companies said on Monday. The multi-year deal will bring women’s health data into Google’s wearables and coaching. They did not disclose the size of the investment.

From early 2027, users will be able to sync Flo with the Google Health app, Engadget reported. Fitbit readings such as sleep, heart rate and skin temperature will feed into Flo’s cycle predictions. Flo’s insights will show up in Google’s paid AI health coach, Google said.

Devices and research

The two also plan co-branded products that pair Flo’s algorithms with Google’s wearable hardware and sensors. They gave no names, prices or dates.

A joint research programme will look for early signs of perimenopause and symptom patterns linked to conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis.

“Women have waited too long for technology that understands their bodies as well as it understands their steps,” said Flo chief executive Dmitry Gurski.

Privacy promises

No data will move between the apps without users’ permission, given separately for each type of data, the companies said. Flo data will not be used for ads or sold.

That matters for Flo. In 2021, it settled with the FTC over claims it shared users’ health data with Facebook and Google despite promising privacy.

Flo says half a billion people have downloaded its app, with more than 80 million using it each month. Google launched its $100 Fitbit Air with an AI health coach earlier this year.