Comparison

Patient Controller NR vs Patient Controller RC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Patient Controller NR

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
Read full description

This Patient Controller NR app is for use with Abbott non-rechargeable (NR) devices, such as Proclaim™ SCS systems, Proclaim™ DRG therapy, and Infinity™ DBS systems. The NeuroSphere™ Patient Controller NR app was developed by Abbott for people living with chronic pain and neurologic disorders who are treated by Abbott neuromodulation devices. This application helps patients conveniently manage the programs prescribed by their physicians and uses Bluetooth® wireless technology to communicate between the implanted stimulator and the Patient Controller NR app. The Patient Controller NR app runs on Abbott recommended devices (as mentioned below) and is easy to use, while the wireless interface provides patients the convenience of managing prescribed stimulation settings from a familiar iOS device. Some of the key functions available for patients include: - Turn stimulation ON/OFF - Select stimulation programs for changing therapy needs - Adjust stimulation amplitude - Check device battery - Turn on MRI mode for MR Conditional systems - Activate and de-activate Surgery Mode In addition, NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic on the Patient Controller NR app enables users to connect with their clinicians for routine programming adjustments remotely. Patients no longer need to visit the clinic for adjustments to their prescribed stimulation settings. Secure in-app video chat enables telehealth sessions directly from within the PC application. Note: - This application will work on select Appleⱡ iPhoneⱡ devices running iOS 12.5.5 or later. - For a list of compatible devices see www.NMmobiledevicesync.com/cp - For the Privacy Policy see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - For the Terms of Use see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - iPod Touch is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. - iOS is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. - ⱡiPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. - Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth Special Interest Group

About

Patient Controller RC

Manage your Abbott neuromodulation device programs from your smartphone. Control stimulation settings, monitor your device, and connect with your clinician remotely for adjustments and telehealth sessions.

Highlights
  • Turn stimulation ON/OFF
  • Select stimulation programs
  • Adjust stimulation amplitude
  • Check device battery
  • Monitor charging
  • Remote clinician connection
  • Secure in-app video chat
Read full description

This app is for use with Abbott rechargeable devices including the Eterna™ Spinal Cord Stimulation system and the Liberta RC™ DBS system. The Patient Controller (PC) Application was developed by Abbott for people living with chronic pain and movement disorders who are treated by Abbott neuromodulation devices. This application helps patients conveniently manage the programs prescribed by their physicians and uses Bluetooth® wireless technology to communicate between the implanted stimulator, Charger and the Patient Controller App. The Patient Controller Application runs on Abbott recommended devices (as mentioned below) and is easy to use, while the wireless interface provides patients the convenience of managing prescribed stimulation settings from a familiar iOS device. Some of the key functions available for patients include: - Turn stimulation ON/OFF - Select stimulation programs for changing therapy needs - Adjust stimulation amplitude - Check device battery - Monitor charging of the implanted stimulator - Adjust charger settings - Turn on MRI mode for MR Conditional systems - Activate and de-activate Surgery Mode In addition, NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic on the PC app enables users to connect with their clinicians for routine programming adjustments remotely. Secure in-app video chat enables telehealth sessions directly from within the PC application. THIS APP DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE, NOR SHOULD BE REGARDED AS COMPRISING MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY NATURE. THE APP IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT AND TREATMENT BY A PHYSICIAN OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. PATIENTS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO MAKING ANY MEDICAL DECISIONS. IF YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES OR YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. Note: - This application will work on select Appleⱡ iPhoneⱡ devices running iOS 15.6.1 or later. - For a list of compatible devices see https://www.NMmobiledevicesync.com/cp - For the Privacy Policy see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - For the Terms of Use see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - ⱡ iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. - Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG

Screenshots

Patient Controller NR3 screens
Patient Controller RC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Patient Controller RC at 3.1 against Patient Controller NR's 2.4. Patient Controller NR's advantage is ratings volume (732 vs 112) and iOS requirement (12.5.5 vs 15.6.1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Patient Controller RC holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patient Controller NR has 732 ratings behind it against 112, 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 22% of Patient Controller RC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, Patient Controller RC every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Patient Controller NR versus Patient Controller RC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatient Controller NRPatient Controller RC
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (732 ratings)3.1 (112 ratings) — better
Positive reviews15.3% of reviews21.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings732 — better112
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.5.5 — better15.6.1
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB79 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSt. Jude Medical, Inc.Abbott

Customer experience

Patient Controller NR

All ratings732 ratings
Positive28.8%
Neutral8.9%
Negative62.3%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive15.3%
Neutral5.1%
Negative79.6%

Patient Controller RC

All ratings113 ratings
Positive44.2%
Neutral13.3%
Negative42.5%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive21.7%
Neutral14.1%
Negative64.1%

User reviews

Patient Controller NR

From 732 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Patient Controller RC

From 112 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ Effective pain relief and device functionality
  • 👍 User-friendly interface and easy control
  • 🔧 Works well on supported iPhone models
  • 💪 Reliable implant performance for chronic pain management
  • 🤝 Good customer support in some regions

Room to improve

  • ❌ Severely outdated iPhone compatibility (lags 2-3+ years behind current models)
  • 📱 Forces users to carry multiple phones simultaneously
  • 🐢 Extremely slow update cycle for new device support
  • 🔌 Provided iPhone SE controller has poor battery life
  • 🔗 Frequent app disconnections requiring restarts

Bugs and requests

Patient Controller NR

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Patient Controller RC

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App incompatible with iPhone 15, 16, 17 series
  • Frequent disconnections from device requiring app restart
  • App crashes and won't open
  • Password update rejection
  • Incompatibility with iOS 18.3.2 and newer
Show 1 more
  • Battery indicator not displaying correctly on newer phones

Requested features

9 requests
  • Support for iPhone 15, 16, 17 and newer models
  • Android app version
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Sleep timer functionality
  • User-adjustable intermittent pulse programs
Show 4 more
  • Screen brightness control for nighttime use
  • Remote programming capability
  • Faster Bluetooth connection speed
  • Monthly bug fix and security patches

In-app purchases

None

Patient Controller NR

No in-app purchases

None

Patient Controller RC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Patient Controller NR free?
Patient Controller NR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Patient Controller RC free?
Patient Controller RC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Patient Controller NR or Patient Controller RC?
Patient Controller RC is rated higher. Patient Controller NR averages 2.4 out of 5 from 732 ratings, while Patient Controller RC averages 3.1 from 112 ratings.
Do Patient Controller NR or Patient Controller RC have ads?
Neither Patient Controller NR nor Patient Controller RC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Patient Controller NR or Patient Controller RC?
Patient Controller NR ships an update every 5 months, and Patient Controller RC every 4 months. Most recently, Patient Controller NR was updated on September 25, 2026 and Patient Controller RC on August 24, 2026.

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