# NHS Now vs AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS)

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) at 44% against NHS Now's 0%. NHS Now's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

NHS Now ships an update every 2 weeks, AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NHS Now | AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askfirst-formerly-ask-nhs/id1222121280/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **64** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **43.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Vidatec Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/698586904) | [Sense.ly Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/871632287) |

## What reviewers say

### NHS Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhs-now/id1049702707)

Find local NHS services like GP practices, pharmacies, and urgent care centers, with real-time opening hours and directions. Access self-care advice and emergency contact information directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Real-time local NHS service finder, Opening hours and directions, GP, pharmacy, and dentist information, Urgent care and A&E locations, Self-care advice access, Map and list view options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askfirst-formerly-ask-nhs/id1222121280)

This AI-powered symptom checker uses clinically validated medical intelligence to help you assess your condition. It provides insights into urgency, offers guidance on next steps, and supports informed healthcare decisions without replacing professional medical advice.

**Highlights:** AI symptom assessment, Conversational symptom checking, Urgency assessment, Next step guidance, Supports healthcare decisions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and efficient appointment booking
- 👍 User-friendly interface for simple tasks
- ⏱️ Saves time compared to phone queues
- 📱 Easy to navigate once familiar with app
- 🎯 Provides appointment options and flexibility

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and 'Access Denied' errors
- 🔄 Logging out mid-process without saving progress
- ❌ Poor age calculation and data handling
- 😕 Limited diagnostic capabilities beyond triage
- 🔐 Login and authentication issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes with 'Access Denied' popup
- Logs out unexpectedly mid-booking process
- Age calculation incorrect despite correct birthdate input
- Login credentials not recognized (NHS and Ask First)
- Forgot password link not sent

**Requested features**

- Back button to navigate and correct mistakes
- Ability to save progress and return later
- Preview available appointments before answering all questions
- Support for multiple family members with same date of birth
- Better integration with NHS records and existing systems


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NHS Now free?

NHS Now is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) free?

AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do NHS Now or AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) have ads?

Neither NHS Now nor AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NHS Now or AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS)?

NHS Now ships an update every 2 weeks, and AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) every 2 months. Most recently, NHS Now was updated on October 2, 2026 and AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS) 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.*