# Patient Controller NR vs HFX

The clearest difference is rating: HFX at 3.5 against Patient Controller NR's 2.4. Patient Controller NR's advantage is ratings volume (732 vs 71) and iOS requirement (12.5.5 vs 15.0). 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.

HFX holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patient Controller NR has 732 ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 15% of Patient Controller NR's written reviews are positive against 12% of HFX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, HFX every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patient Controller NR | HFX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (732 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patient-controller-nr-us/id1059237634/reviews) | **[3.5 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfx/id6443477068/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **732** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | **15.3% of reviews** | 12.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 124 MB | 59 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) | [Nevro Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1613247836) |

## 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


### HFX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfx/id6443477068)

Manage chronic pain with personalized relief. This app pairs with a spinal cord stimulator to learn your pain patterns and deliver tailored therapy. It offers features like progress tracking, favorite program saving, and proactive patient support.

**Highlights:** Personalized pain relief recommendations, Proactive patient support, Save favorite therapy programs, Track pain relief progress, Earn achievement badges, Check device battery level, Enable MRI Mode

**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 HFX free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Patient Controller NR or HFX?

HFX is rated higher. Patient Controller NR averages 2.4 out of 5 from 732 ratings, while HFX averages 3.5 from 71 ratings.

### Do Patient Controller NR or HFX have ads?

Neither Patient Controller NR nor HFX shows ads.

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

Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, and HFX every 3 months. Most recently, Patient Controller NR was updated on September 25, 2026 and HFX on September 22, 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.*