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Healthcare · head to head

Clue vs OpenMRS

Clue logo

Clue

Healthcare

Period and cycle tracking app owned by German company Biowink, positioned around science based tracking and a published stance against sharing data with law enforcement

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenMRS logo

OpenMRS

Healthcare

Open source electronic medical record platform for low-resource settings, with no vendor and paid implementers instead

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clue clues stated policy on not sharing data with law enforcement without a valid legal process is the companys own published position and legal interpretation, not an independent guarantee, and it can still be compelled to comply with a legally binding request under EU or other applicable law.; OpenMRS there is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does
  • They diverge on capability: Clue covers Cycle and symptom tracking, OpenMRS covers Concept dictionary.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clue and OpenMRS actually diverge.

Attributes where Clue and OpenMRS differ
AttributeClueOpenMRS
Pricing modelFree with a Plus subscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, AndroidLinux, Web, Windows

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Clue

  • Cycle and symptom tracking
  • Cycle insights and patterns
  • Research partnerships
  • EU-based data hosting
  • Fertility and conception mode
  • Perimenopause and other life stage tracking

Only in OpenMRS

  • Concept dictionary
  • Modular architecture
  • Modern front end
  • FHIR support
  • Offline tolerance
  • Patient matching and registration
  • Distributions

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Clue

  • Someone specifically weighing data jurisdiction and legal exposure when choosing a period tracking app, given Clues EU basis and published stance on law enforcement requestsnot OpenMRS
  • A user who wants cycle tracking positioned around scientific research partnerships rather than lifestyle or community contentnot OpenMRS
  • A buyer comparing Clue directly against Flo on current published privacy policy language before choosing which app to trustnot OpenMRS
  • Someone tracking perimenopause or other non-standard cycle stages that some period apps do not support wellnot OpenMRS

OpenMRS

  • A ministry of health standardising HIV treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordablenot Clue
  • A hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirementsnot Clue
  • An NGO running a tuberculosis programme that must report into DHIS2 and needs the clinical record beneath it to be modifiablenot Clue
  • A health system that wants to own its clinical data model outright rather than depend on a vendor to extend itnot Clue

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Clue

  • Clues stated policy on not sharing data with law enforcement without a valid legal process is the companys own published position and legal interpretation, not an independent guarantee, and it can still be compelled to comply with a legally binding request under EU or other applicable law.
  • Deeper cycle insights and predictions, the features most likely to justify tracking in the first place, are gated behind the Clue Plus subscription rather than fully free.
  • Being a smaller company than some competitors, Clue has less capital and legal resource to contest large-scale legal requests than a larger, better-funded rival might, despite its stated intent to do so.
  • Research partnerships using anonymised user data, while opt-in, still mean user-derived data can be used in ways beyond direct app functionality, and users should check current consent settings.
  • Cycle predictions rely on self-reported data and general population models, so accuracy for irregular cycles or specific medical conditions remains limited regardless of which app is used.

OpenMRS

  • There is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does
  • It is a framework rather than a ready product, so a deployment requires clinical content, form design, concept dictionary work and integration before a single patient is registered, and that work is months of skilled effort
  • Funding comes largely from donor programmes, which makes the pace of core development dependent on grant cycles rather than on a commercial roadmap, and priorities can shift when a funder does
  • Distribution choice, core OpenMRS against Bahmni against Ozone, locks in a different set of components and a different implementer pool, and migrating between distributions later is close to a fresh implementation
  • The people cost never goes away: a national deployment needs permanent internal informatics capacity or a permanent support contract, and organisations that budget only the zero licence fee run out of money at the point the system becomes clinically critical

Pricing, plan by plan

Clue

Free
  • Clue Plus$9.99/month
    • Free tier covers core cycle tracking, logging and basic predictions
    • Clue Plus adds deeper cycle insights, extended predictions and personalised content
    • Annual Plus plans typically offered at a lower effective monthly rate

OpenMRS

Free
  • OpenMRSFree
    • Openly licensed, no licence fee and no seat limits
    • Community support through forums and the OpenMRS Talk platform
    • No support contract available from OpenMRS itself

Which should you pick?

Choose Clue if

  • You need cycle and symptom tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want cycle insights and patterns.
Clue review

Choose OpenMRS if

  • You need concept dictionary.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Web, Windows.
  • You also want modular architecture.
OpenMRS review

Questions people ask

Is Clue or OpenMRS better?
Neither clearly leads. Clue starts at Free and OpenMRS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clue or OpenMRS?
Clue starts at Free and OpenMRS at Free.
Does Clue or OpenMRS run on more platforms?
Clue runs on iOS, Android. OpenMRS runs on Linux, Web, Windows.
Can I use Clue for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Clue best used for?
Clue is most often used for someone specifically weighing data jurisdiction and legal exposure when choosing a period tracking app, given clues eu basis and published stance on law enforcement requests, a user who wants cycle tracking positioned around scientific research partnerships rather than lifestyle or community content, a buyer comparing clue directly against flo on current published privacy policy language before choosing which app to trust, someone tracking perimenopause or other non-standard cycle stages that some period apps do not support well. Of those, someone specifically weighing data jurisdiction and legal exposure when choosing a period tracking app, given clues eu basis and published stance on law enforcement requests and a user who wants cycle tracking positioned around scientific research partnerships rather than lifestyle or community content are not what OpenMRS is typically brought in for.
What can Clue do that OpenMRS cannot?
Clue covers Cycle and symptom tracking, Cycle insights and patterns, Research partnerships, EU-based data hosting. OpenMRS covers Concept dictionary, Modular architecture, Modern front end, FHIR support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clue: Does Clue share data with law enforcement?

Clue publishes a policy stating it does not share health data with law enforcement or public authorities without a legally binding request and states it will challenge requests it considers improper. This is the companys stated position; verify the current policy directly for specifics.

OpenMRS: Who supports OpenMRS if it breaks?

Not OpenMRS itself. Support is bought from implementers such as Mekom Solutions, which offers long-term production service level agreements for OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone deployments, or from regional partners.

Clue: Why does Clue emphasise being an EU company?

Clue operates under EU GDPR data protection rules and states this legal basis makes it harder for authorities outside the EU, including US authorities, to compel data disclosure than for a company based in the US.

OpenMRS: Is it really free?

The software has no licence fee. Hosting, configuration, clinical content, integration and support are the real cost, and they are ongoing.

Clue: Is Clue free?

Core cycle tracking, logging and basic predictions are free. Deeper insights and extended predictions require Clue Plus.

OpenMRS: What is the difference between OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone?

OpenMRS is the core platform. Bahmni and Ozone are distributions that package it with billing, laboratory and inventory components. Choosing a distribution constrains your implementer options.

OpenMRS: Does it support FHIR?

Yes. FHIR support is the standard route for integrating laboratory, pharmacy and national reporting systems.

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