# PKU vs PheLena

The clearest difference is update cadence: PheLena at every 5 days against PKU's every 2 months. PKU's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PKU sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PheLena sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PKU ships an update every 2 months, PheLena every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PKU | PheLena |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pku/id1046121773/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 22 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maik Barz](https://appshunter.io/developer/891428102) | [Philipp Baumann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896554958) |

## What reviewers say

### PKU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pku/id1046121773)

This app helps individuals manage their Phenylalanine (PHE) intake by tracking food consumption. It allows users to add custom foods, create recipes, and set supplement reminders. A daily overview shows remaining PHE allowance, and a blood value list provides a quick health summary.

**Highlights:** Track Phenylalanine (PHE) intake, Add custom foods and recipes, Daily PHE allowance overview, Supplement reminder alerts, Blood value list, Recipe management with average PHE per 100g

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock premium features | $2.99 | one-time |


### PheLena

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phelena/id6769055425)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $22.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PKU free?

PKU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PheLena free?

PheLena is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do PKU or PheLena have ads?

Neither PKU nor PheLena shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PKU or PheLena?

PKU ships an update every 2 months, and PheLena every 5 days. Most recently, PKU was updated on November 11, 2026 and PheLena on November 5, 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.*