# The ACPA vs PatientsLikeMe

The clearest difference is rating: PatientsLikeMe at 4.2 against The ACPA's 1.8. PatientsLikeMe also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). The ACPA's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and review sentiment (10% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, 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.

PatientsLikeMe holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 18 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 10% of The ACPA's written reviews are positive against 0% of PatientsLikeMe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The ACPA ships an update every 7 months, PatientsLikeMe every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The ACPA | PatientsLikeMe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-acpa/id1064099760/reviews) | **[4.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patientslikeme/id1237832232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **18** |
| Positive reviews | **10.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 388 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The American Chronic Pain Association, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1213845227) | [PatientsLikeMe](https://appshunter.io/developer/922971211) |

## What reviewers say

### The ACPA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-acpa/id1064099760)

This app offers peer support, education, and hope for individuals managing pain conditions. It aims to empower users to seek quality care, improve healthcare visits, and prevent chronic disease progression.

**Highlights:** Peer support network, Pain condition education, Healthcare visit optimization, Chronic disease prevention resources, Motivation for quality care

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### PatientsLikeMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patientslikeme/id1237832232)

Connect with others living with chronic conditions for peer support and shared knowledge. Discover curated solutions, gain health insights from lived experiences, and receive motivational reminders to manage your health journey effectively.

**Highlights:** Peer support network, Shared health knowledge, Curated solutions, Motivational reminders, Health insights from lived experiences, Connect with peers 24/7

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The ACPA free?

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

### Is PatientsLikeMe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The ACPA or PatientsLikeMe?

PatientsLikeMe is rated higher. The ACPA averages 1.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while PatientsLikeMe averages 4.2 from 18 ratings.

### Do The ACPA or PatientsLikeMe have ads?

Neither The ACPA nor PatientsLikeMe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The ACPA or PatientsLikeMe?

The ACPA ships an update every 7 months, and PatientsLikeMe every 2 months. Most recently, The ACPA was updated on September 17, 2026 and PatientsLikeMe on October 7, 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.*