Nara Baby vs MamaBee (2026): Nara Is No Longer Free

Short answer: Nara Baby is still a well-made, ad-free tracker, but since October 2026 it has no free tier: after a 7-day trial you pay $9.99 a month or $99.99 once, or the app turns read-only. MamaBee keeps core tracking free with no ads. Nara still wins on Android, Apple Watch and pregnancy tracking.

We make MamaBee, so read this knowing that. We also think Nara earned its reputation. For seven years it was the simple, free, ad-free tracker that parents recommended to each other, and its 24,500 US ratings average 4.8 stars. This article is about what changed, what Nara still does better, and when switching makes sense.

What changed at Nara Baby?

In mid-September 2026, Nara told users in the app that the tracker would become paid in October. Its own FAQ now sets out the terms:

• $9.99 a month, or $99.99 once for lifetime access. Nara sometimes runs promotions below these prices.
• A 7-day free trial that starts with your first log. No card is needed.
• After the trial, the app is read-only. You can view and export your data, but you can't add new entries until you pay.
• One payment covers the family: unlimited caregivers and unlimited children. Co-parents in two separate households pay separately.

Parents noticed. In the 500 most recent US App Store reviews (September 16 to October 23, 2026), about two thirds are one star and most mention the paywall. The common themes are the price, the short notice, and the feeling that years of logs were suddenly behind a payment. Many of the same reviews still praise the app itself.

How do Nara Baby and MamaBee compare?

What Nara Baby still does best

It's simple. The most common praise in Nara's reviews, even the angry ones, is how clean and easy it is. That was always the point.

Unlimited family on one payment. Every caregiver and every child is included. If grandparents, a nanny and two parents all log, Nara handles that without extra tiers.

More devices. Nara runs on Apple Watch and Android, has Siri support (added May 2026) and Live Activities on the lock screen. MamaBee is iPhone-only today.

Pregnancy and postpartum. Nara tracks pregnancy vitals, mood, appointments and a photo journal, then carries on after the birth. MamaBee starts at birth.

A lifetime option. $99.99 once is a real choice for parents who hate subscriptions. Over three years it costs less than MamaBee Premium.

Where Nara Baby stops

Nothing is free after a week. This is the big one. A newborn tracker is used most in the first sleep-deprived weeks, which is exactly when Nara now asks for $9.99 a month.

Trends cover 14 days at most. Nara's FAQ says in-app trends go back up to 14 days. That's fine for a pediatrician visit, less so for spotting a slow change in sleep over two months.

Nap reminders follow your schedule, not your baby. You set fixed nap times or wake windows and Nara reminds you. That works, but it doesn't learn from your baby's own sleep history.

English only, and CSV-only export. Some reviewers find the export awkward, and photos don't come with it.

Its privacy label lists tracking. Nara's App Store label lists Usage Data under "Data Used to Track You", alongside contact info, user ID and photos linked to your identity.

Where MamaBee is different

Core tracking is free with no time limit. Sleep, breastfeeding with left/right timers, bottles and pumping, diapers, growth with WHO percentiles, temperature, medicine, symptoms, doctor visits, vaccines and 45+ CDC milestones. Two caregivers can sync in real time. CSV, JSON and a pediatrician PDF export are all free. There are no ads on any tier.

Your data stays on your iPhone by default. Logs only reach our servers if you turn on Co-Parent Sharing. We never sell data or use it to train outside AI models. See are baby tracker apps safe? for what to check in any tracker.

Premium is about new features, not unlocking the basics. For $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year you get Sleep Coach nap prediction from your baby's own history, unlimited Bee AI chat, the Solid Food Allergen Test, multi-baby sync, extra caregivers, and 30, 90 and 365-day insights.

Nara's monthly plan is the most expensive way to track a baby here. Its lifetime option is good value if you were going to pay anyway. MamaBee's free tier costs nothing, and Premium costs about half of Nara monthly.

Looking for a free Nara replacement? MamaBee's core tracker is free, with no ads.

Get the app

Where MamaBee loses

• No Android, Apple Watch or iPad yet. If one parent is on Android, Nara works for both of you and MamaBee doesn't.
• No pregnancy tracking. Nara covers pregnancy; we start at birth.
• No Siri logging and no photos on entries.
• Unlimited caregivers cost extra. Our free tier syncs two caregivers. Nara's single payment covers everyone.
• We're new. Nara has seven years and 24,500 ratings behind it. We have a handful.

Which costs less over time?

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Nara Baby monthly ($9.99)	$119.88	$239.76	$359.64
Nara Baby lifetime	$99.99	$99.99	$99.99
MamaBee free	$0	$0	$0
MamaBee Premium (annual)	$49.99	$99.98	$149.97

Should you switch from Nara Baby?

Stay with Nara (and buy lifetime) if one parent uses Android, you rely on the Apple Watch or Siri, you want pregnancy tracking, or several caregivers log every day.

Switch to MamaBee if you're on iPhone, you don't want to pay just to keep logging, and you'd like longer-term insights and nap prediction available when you want them.

Before you switch, export your Nara data as CSV so you keep a copy of everything you've logged. For a wider view of the field, see our best baby tracker app comparison and best free baby tracker apps.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nara Baby still free?

No. Since October 2026 Nara Baby has a 7-day free trial, then costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 for lifetime access. After the trial you can view and export your data, but you can't add new entries without paying.

Can I export my data from Nara Baby?

Yes. Nara's FAQ says you can export CSV files for each child, including after the trial ends. Do this before you switch apps so you keep your history.

Does Nara Baby have ads?

No. Nara has no ads. Neither does MamaBee, on any tier.

What is the best free alternative to Nara Baby?

For iPhone families, MamaBee's free tier covers sleep, feeds, diapers, growth, health, vaccines and milestones, with two-caregiver sync and full export, and no ads. If you need Android, look at a cross-platform tracker such as PiyoLog or Baby Tracker (Nighp); we compare both in our best baby tracker app guide.

Can I import my Nara data into MamaBee?

Not directly. Baby trackers don't import from each other. Keep your Nara CSV export for your records and start fresh. A tracker is useful again within about a week of logs, and Sleep Coach gets sharper after about two.

The takeaway

Nara Baby didn't get worse. It got paid. If you value its Android and Watch support or want to buy once and stop thinking about it, the $99.99 lifetime plan is fair. If you're on an iPhone and want a calm, ad-free tracker that stays free, that's what we built.

Sources: Nara Baby App Store listing, Nara Baby app FAQ, Nara Baby on Google Play.

Competitor prices, features and privacy labels checked on the US App Store, the vendor's own website and help pages, and Google Play on October 25, 2026, and may change. This article is general information, not medical advice.