# PatientsLikeMe vs Wave Health

PatientsLikeMe and Wave Health both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 39% of Wave Health's written reviews are positive against 0% of PatientsLikeMe's. Wave Health also leads on ratings volume (271 vs 18) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). PatientsLikeMe's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wave Health sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. PatientsLikeMe asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for PatientsLikeMe against 4.3 for Wave Health. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wave Health has 271 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of PatientsLikeMe's written reviews are positive against 39% of Wave Health's.

PatientsLikeMe ships an update every 2 months, Wave Health monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PatientsLikeMe | Wave Health |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patientslikeme/id1237832232/reviews) | **[4.3 (271 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-health-symptom-tracker/id1482036778/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **271** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **38.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PatientsLikeMe](https://appshunter.io/developer/922971211) | [Treatment Technologies & Insights, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1199851759) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Wave Health

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-health-symptom-tracker/id1482036778)

This app helps individuals with cancer and chronic illnesses manage their health journey. It allows for comprehensive tracking of symptoms, medications, and daily activities, providing personalized insights to understand what impacts well-being. Users can also share detailed health information with their care team.

**Highlights:** Symptom and medication tracking, Personalized AI insights, Wearable device integration, Customizable tracking options, Secure and private data storage, Shareable health reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wave+ | $13.99 | per month |
| 6 Months Subscription | $54.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $124.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 📊 Helpful charts and data visualization for tracking trends
- 💡 Ability to add custom symptoms for personalized tracking
- 🎯 Comprehensive health tracking in one app
- 📱 Works without requiring a diagnosis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Symptoms disappear randomly or after updates
- 🐛 Data loss issues (symptoms, profile info, notes)
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection and email practices
- ❌ Confusing and unintuitive layout

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when adding medications
- Symptoms disappear after iOS updates
- Custom symptoms erased when adding new symptoms from list
- Sleep tracker adds hours incorrectly
- Calendar won't load after updates

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app version
- Easier back-dating of symptoms
- Home screen or lock screen widgets
- Better data visualization and averaging options
- Ability to track multiple conditions simultaneously


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PatientsLikeMe free?

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

### Is Wave Health free?

Wave Health is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PatientsLikeMe or Wave Health?

Wave Health is rated higher. PatientsLikeMe averages 4.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Wave Health averages 4.3 from 271 ratings.

### Do PatientsLikeMe or Wave Health have ads?

Neither PatientsLikeMe nor Wave Health shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PatientsLikeMe or Wave Health?

PatientsLikeMe ships an update every 2 months, and Wave Health monthly. Most recently, PatientsLikeMe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Wave Health on October 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.*