Comparison

NHS App vs Plabable for PA

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

Head to head
About

NHS App

Access a range of NHS services securely from your smartphone or tablet. Request repeat prescriptions, view test results, manage appointments, and receive messages from your GP surgery. You can also manage services for others if granted access.

Highlights
  • Request repeat prescriptions
  • View test results
  • Manage appointments
  • Access 111 online
  • Find nearby NHS services
  • Manage health for others
  • Receive messages from GP surgery
Features
Read full description

The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the app if you are aged 13 or over. You must be registered with an NHS GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man. You can also log in through the NHS website on a computer to use NHS App services. Access NHS services
 ---------------------- Use the NHS App to access your NHS services, anytime and anywhere. You can request repeat prescriptions, use 111 online, find nearby NHS services and more. Depending on your GP surgery, you may also be able to book appointments and contact your surgery about a health problem. Manage your health
 -------------------- The NHS App gives you a convenient way to view your health information, including your test results. You can manage your upcoming appointments and prescription requests. You can also make choices about your health, like your organ donation decision.

 Receive messages
 ------------------- You can get important messages from your GP surgery and other NHS services through the app. Turning on notifications can alert you to new messages.

 Manage services for other people
 ---------------------------------
 You can switch profiles to access services for other people in the NHS App, such as a child or family member. Your GP surgery needs to give you access and you must both share the same surgery.

 Log in securely
 --------------- The NHS App will guide you through setting up an NHS login if you do not have one already. You will be asked to prove who you are. The app will then securely connect to information from your NHS services.

If your iPhone or iPad supports Touch ID or Face ID, you can use it to log in, every time you use the app.

About

Plabable for PA

Prepare for the Physician Associate National Examination (PANE) with high-yield practice questions and comprehensive revision guides. This app offers timed mock exams and evidence-based explanations to help you pass the knowledge-based assessment.

Highlights
  • High-yield practice questions
  • Timed mock practices
  • Comprehensive revision guides
  • Evidence-based explanations
  • Practice by clinical categories
  • Flagging questions and guides
Features
Read full description

Passing the Physician Associate National Examination (PANE) is required to become a qualified physician associate in the UK. The exam includes two parts. The first part is made up of a 200-question, single-best-answer assessment taken online and the second part is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). At Plabable for PA, we focus on high yield questions which are written and reviewed by qualified physician associates, closely resembling the first part of PANE which is a knowledge based assessment, giving you the best opportunity to pass on the first attempt. We take pride in staying on par with the current changes in the NHS and we consistently update our questions and explanations. The answers we provide are evidence-based and our explanations are from reliable sources including NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries, NICE guidelines and patient.info. Revise on the go with features including: ● Practise questions by clinical categories ● Timed mock practices ● Comprehensive revision guides ● Option for flagging questions and revision guides ● Optional add-on Gems and Decking feature ● Dedicated Whatsapp groups for discussion Start revising with us today!

Screenshots

NHS App4 screens
Plabable for PA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Plabable for PA at 72% against NHS App's 21%. Plabable for PA also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). NHS App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ratings volume (75 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Plabable for PA sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. NHS App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Plabable for PA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NHS App has 75 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of NHS App's written reviews are positive against 72% of Plabable for PA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NHS App ships an update every 3 weeks, Plabable for PA monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NHS App versus Plabable for PA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNHS AppPlabable for PA
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (75 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.1% of reviews72.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings75 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB87 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperNHS DigitalPlabable Limited

Customer experience

NHS App

All ratings75 ratings
Positive38.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative56.0%
Written reviews945 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral10.7%
Negative68.3%

Plabable for PA

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

NHS App

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to log in after recent update
  • Blank screens and loading issues
  • Incorrect or missing appointment details
  • Syncing problems with GP records

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to book appointments directly
  • Improved integration with other health apps
  • Inclusion of full medical history
  • Persistent login and biometric support
  • Notification system for prescription status

Plabable for PA

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NHS App

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Plabable for PA

One-time7
  • Gems$14.99
  • Extend 3 Months$29.99
  • 3 Months$39.99
Show 4 more
  • Extend 5 Months$39.99
  • 3 Months + Gems$39.99
  • 5 Months$49.99
  • 5 Months + Gems$49.99

Questions

Is NHS App free?
NHS App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plabable for PA free?
Plabable for PA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NHS App or Plabable for PA?
Plabable for PA is rated higher. NHS App averages 2.7 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while Plabable for PA averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do NHS App or Plabable for PA have ads?
Neither NHS App nor Plabable for PA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NHS App or Plabable for PA?
NHS App ships an update every 3 weeks, and Plabable for PA monthly. Most recently, NHS App was updated on September 25, 2026 and Plabable for PA on September 24, 2026.

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