# Virgin Active SA vs Bankmed Balance

The clearest difference is rating: Virgin Active SA at 4.8 against Bankmed Balance's 3.6. Virgin Active SA also leads on ratings volume (746 vs 8) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Virgin Active SA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Virgin Active SA has 746 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 6% of Virgin Active SA's written reviews are positive against 11% of Bankmed Balance's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Virgin Active SA ships an update every 3 weeks, Bankmed Balance monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Virgin Active SA | Bankmed Balance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (746 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-active-sa/id1022763576/reviews)** | [3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bankmed-balance/id1060971997/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **746** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 5.8% of reviews | **10.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 352 MB | 296 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Virgin Active South Africa](https://appshunter.io/developer/978000637) | [Bankmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/647205547) |

## What reviewers say

### Virgin Active SA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-active-sa/id1022763576)

This app rewards you for achieving personal wellness goals with exclusive partner offers. Access on-demand classes, book club sessions up to 8 days ahead, and use your digital card for club entry. It's designed to support your progress with guidance and tangible benefits.

**Highlights:** Real rewards from partners, Book club classes up to 8 days in advance, Digital access card for club entry, On-demand classes for anytime training, Personalized wellness guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and convenient layout
- 💡 Digital membership card functionality
- 🎯 Well-thought-out design approach

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login failures and authentication errors
- ⚠️ Rewards system doesn't work reliably
- 🐢 Extremely slow app performance
- ❌ Gym session tracking not registering
- 🔄 Inconsistent functionality across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Login error messages with no resolution
- Password reset emails delayed or not received
- App freezes during booking attempts
- Gym attendance not logged for rewards
- Rewards expiring before being credited

**Requested features**

- Apple Wallet integration for digital card
- Apple Watch device support
- Graphical display of visit statistics per month
- Bike assignment visibility for spinning bookings
- Club entry button on home page


### Bankmed Balance

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bankmed-balance/id1060971997)

Access your medical aid information, track claims, and view health records. Earn rewards for fitness activities by linking to health apps.

**Highlights:** View plan benefits and savings, Track 12 months of claims history, Search for healthcare professionals, Access Electronic Health Record (EHR), Earn fitness points and rewards, Integrates with Apple Health

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Virgin Active SA free?

Virgin Active SA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bankmed Balance free?

Bankmed Balance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Virgin Active SA or Bankmed Balance?

Virgin Active SA is rated higher. Virgin Active SA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 746 ratings, while Bankmed Balance averages 3.6 from 8 ratings.

### Do Virgin Active SA or Bankmed Balance have ads?

Neither Virgin Active SA nor Bankmed Balance shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Virgin Active SA or Bankmed Balance?

Virgin Active SA ships an update every 3 weeks, and Bankmed Balance monthly. Most recently, Virgin Active SA was updated on October 23, 2026 and Bankmed Balance on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*