# Patient Controller NR vs myMerlin™

The clearest difference is rating: myMerlin™ at 2.9 against Patient Controller NR's 2.4. Patient Controller NR's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (773 vs 106). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

myMerlin™ holds the better App Store score, 2.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patient Controller NR has 773 ratings behind it against 106, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Patient Controller NR's written reviews are positive against 17% of myMerlin™'s.

Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, myMerlin™ every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patient Controller NR | myMerlin™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (773 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patient-controller-nr-us/id1059237634/reviews) | **[2.9 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mymerlin/id1210169978/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **773** | 106 |
| Positive reviews | 15.3% of reviews | **17.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 124 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.5.5** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [St. Jude Medical, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/591520737) | [Abbott](https://appshunter.io/developer/402314324) |

## What reviewers say

### Patient Controller NR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patient-controller-nr-us/id1059237634)

Manage your prescribed neuromodulation therapy programs conveniently from your smartphone. This app allows you to control stimulation settings, check device status, and even connect with your clinician remotely for adjustments.

**Highlights:** Turn stimulation ON/OFF, Select stimulation programs, Adjust stimulation amplitude, Check device battery, Activate MRI mode, Remote clinician connection, Secure video chat

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for pain management
- 🔒 Secure connection to device

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iPhones
- 🔋 Battery life problems with iPod controller
- ⏱️ Slow connection and response times
- 🤔 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after iOS updates
- Bluetooth connection frequently drops
- Unable to access device settings on newer phones

**Requested features**

- Update app to support latest iPhone models
- Add ability to set custom program names
- Integrate with Apple Watch for easier control
- Provide real-time battery level monitoring


### myMerlin™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mymerlin/id1210169978)

This application securely transmits heart rhythm data from an insertable cardiac monitor to your doctor. It allows you to log symptoms, review past transmissions, and stay connected with your healthcare provider for better heart rhythm monitoring.

**Highlights:** Continuous heart rhythm monitoring, Automatic event recording, Symptomatic event logging, View past and upcoming transmissions, Secure data transmission to doctor, Remote monitoring setting updates (device dependent)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patient Controller NR free?

Patient Controller NR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is myMerlin™ free?

myMerlin™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Patient Controller NR or myMerlin™?

myMerlin™ is rated higher. Patient Controller NR averages 2.4 out of 5 from 773 ratings, while myMerlin™ averages 2.9 from 106 ratings.

### Do Patient Controller NR or myMerlin™ have ads?

Neither Patient Controller NR nor myMerlin™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Patient Controller NR or myMerlin™?

Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, and myMerlin™ every 12 months. Most recently, Patient Controller NR was updated on October 29, 2026 and myMerlin™ on November 1, 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.*