App Showcase: Lively

What it does

Lively is a wellness app designed to help users synchronize their lifestyle with their menstrual cycle. It goes beyond simple period tracking by providing a daily, personalized set of recommendations for diet, exercise, and self-care activities tailored to the user's current cycle phase. The goal is to help users understand their body's rhythm and optimize their well-being.

Where it shines

Lively excels in making complex hormonal health information actionable and accessible. The core of the experience is the "Lively Board" (01:31), a dynamic, personalized checklist that turns scientific advice into simple daily tasks. The main dashboard (01:26) is also commendably clear, showing the user exactly where they are in their cycle with a clean visual timeline. Finally, its symptom logging feature (02:40) is comprehensive yet intuitive, allowing users to quickly tag everything from mood to energy levels.

UX highlights

• The main dashboard provides a clean, at-a-glance view of the current cycle day and phase, with a clear countdown to the next period.
• The "Lively Board" is a standout feature that turns passive data tracking into an active, gamified daily wellness plan.
• Tapping any activity on the board reveals a detailed card explaining the 'Why' and 'How,' educating the user in context (01:34).
• Symptom logging uses a tag-based system that is fast and covers a wide range of feelings and physical symptoms without being overwhelming.
• The dedicated calendar view (04:11) uses distinct colors for each cycle phase, helping users visualize their patterns over a month.
• Interactions are polished with subtle checkmark animations (01:38) that provide satisfying feedback upon completing a suggested task.

Monetization & growth

A soft paywall is presented during the onboarding flow at 01:06, after the app has already demonstrated its personalization capabilities. It offers a single plan: a 7-day free trial that converts to a yearly subscription. The paywall's design effectively builds trust by visualizing the trial's timeline, even promising a reminder on day 5 before the trial ends. This transparent approach likely helps increase trial conversions.

Who it’s for

This app is for individuals who want to move beyond basic period tracking and actively align their daily routines with their menstrual cycle. It's well-suited for users interested in a holistic approach to wellness, who appreciate actionable advice on nutrition, fitness, and self-care that is scientifically grounded yet easy to follow. It appeals to those who want a coach, not just a calendar.

Notes & opportunities

While the "Lively Board" is powerful, the sheer number of daily suggestions could feel daunting to some users. A feature that highlights or suggests a top 3 "must-do" activities for the day could improve focus and reduce choice paralysis. Additionally, the prompt to connect with Apple Health appears relatively late in the user journey (03:41). Introducing this earlier could potentially enhance the initial personalization and make the first-run experience even more powerful.