Comparison

Raftr vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Raftr

This platform enables users to connect with others, discover groups, resources, and events within private communities. It facilitates collaboration, direct communication with administrators, and easy access to important information like news and alerts.

Highlights
  • Discover people and groups
  • Find resources and events
  • Collaborate with peers
  • Chat with community admins
  • Access news and alerts
Features
Read full description

Discover Raftr: a private community platform that allows members to discover people, groups, resources & events. Collaborate with your peers, chat with community admins and easily find information like upcoming events, news, alerts and more – all from one easy-to-use app. At Raftr, we believe everyone should have access to a safe & supportive network for personal growth and community development. Download the app today and find your community so you can start building meaningful, long term connections.

About

Pulse

Connect with peers and mentors in the medical field, from pre-med to attending physicians. Discover career resources, personalized advice, and curated medical news. Build your professional network and navigate your healthcare journey.

Highlights
  • Professional networking
  • AI-powered mentorship matching
  • Personalized medical news feed
  • AI virtual advisor for career guidance
  • Organization and club pages
  • Career development guides
Read full description

Pulse is the professional network for preme students, medical students, residents, and physicians—built to connect healthcare’s next generation through community, guidance, and career resources. Pulse, is Where Healthcare Connects. We aim to bridge the gap across every medical training and practice stage. Whether you’re preparing for the MCAT, applying to residency, or navigating practice management, Pulse gives you the tools, resources, and relationships to thrive in healthcare. Join a platform built by doctors and medical students who’ve stood in your shoes, offering a space to connect, learn, and grow with people who truly understand your path. Built For: - Premedical Students: Find mentors, discover application strategies, and explore specialties early. - Medical Students: Connect with peers, plan for match, and get matched with mentors. - Residents & Fellows: Build your network, share advice, and explore post-training opportunities. - Attending Physicians: Give back as a mentor, grow your professional network, and stay up to date with curated medical news. Features: PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING - Discover and connect with premedical students, medical students, residents, and physicians across specialties. - Our AI-powered algorithm recommends connections for you based on interests, locations, and training stage, to allow for more intentional connections. - Connect with users to build your network and stay updated on their progress, posts, and milestones. PERSONALIZED FEED - A personalized feed with curated medical news, events, guides, and community insights. - Follow mentors, peers, and student leaders in your specialty or institution. - Engage in conversations that matter across all stages of training. MENTORSHIP MATCHING - AI-powered matching connects you with mentors and colleagues across specialties. - Match based on shared interests, goals, experience level, and location. - Request mentorship and track your progress with integrated milestones. AVA, YOUR PERSONAL AI VIRTUAL ADVISOR - Set your current goals—whether it’s getting into med school, matching into residency, or growing as an attending. - Ava analyzes your profile, experiences, and milestones to offer tailored advice and next steps. - Get actionable, goal-specific recommendations on what to focus on, backed by career data and timelines. ORGANIZATION AND CLUB PAGES - Dedicated spaces for student organizations, hospitals, and medical schools. - Share announcements, post events, and onboard new members seamlessly. - Post and discover events, track RSVPs, and sync seamlessly with your calendar. - Strengthen internal community engagement while expanding reach. CAREER DEVELOPMENT GUIDES - Access in-depth guides on excelling in clinical rotations, applying to research, and navigating the application process. - Learn how to apply for grants, write research proposals, and secure funding opportunities. - Get financial guidance on managing debt, budgeting during training, and preparing for future career decisions. CAREER PLANNING AND APPLICATION SUPPORT - Step-by-step tools for choosing specialties and planning your application timeline. - Interview preparation guides, CV, and personal statement tips. - Application deadline reminders and strategy resources. PEER COLLABORATION AND MESSAGING - One-on-one chats and group chats for academic support, community building, and planning. - Build your professional circle and stay connected with your cohort. From goal setting to growth tracking, and from building relationships and lifelong mentors, Pulse gives you the tools and platform to navigate your career path. Stay organized, connected, and prepared—wherever you are in your medical journey.

Screenshots

Raftr3 screens
Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pulse at 100% against Raftr's 55%. Pulse also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.2) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Raftr's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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

Pulse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 53 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Raftr's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pulse's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Raftr ships an update every 10 days, Pulse fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Raftr versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRaftrPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (53 ratings)5.0 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings53 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB69 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperRaftr, IncPractitionet LLC

Customer experience

Raftr

All ratings53 ratings
Positive54.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative41.5%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative36.4%

Pulse

All ratings17 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Raftr

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pulse

Requested features

2 requests
  • More support for medical schools outside the US
  • Seamless integration with LinkedIn or resume upload

In-app purchases

None

Raftr

No in-app purchases

None

Pulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Raftr free?
Raftr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Raftr or Pulse?
Pulse is rated higher. Raftr averages 3.2 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while Pulse averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.
Do Raftr or Pulse have ads?
Pulse shows ads; Raftr does not.
Which is updated more often, Raftr or Pulse?
Raftr ships an update every 10 days, and Pulse fortnightly. Most recently, Raftr was updated on September 19, 2026 and Pulse on June 11, 2026.

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