Comparison

NHS App vs Virtual Care from AXA

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

Virtual Care from AXA

Access qualified doctors, psychologists, and medical experts on demand. Get the choice, flexibility, and reassurance you need for yourself and your family from a world-class provider, wherever you are.

Highlights
  • On-demand access to medical experts
  • Consultations with doctors and psychologists
  • Support for family members
  • Global access to services
  • Flexible and convenient care
Features
Read full description

Virtual Care from AXA provides customers with on demand access to highly qualified doctors, psychologists and medical experts. With seamless access to our virtual care services according to your plan’s cover, Virtual Care from AXA provides you and your family with the choice, flexibility and reassurance that you need from a world class provider. Whether it’s a virtual medical consultation with a highly qualified doctor, dedicated support from a psychologist to sail through life’s challenges or reassurance about a diagnosis from another expert physician, Virtual Care from AXA is there to get you the best support – wherever you are in the world.

Screenshots

NHS App4 screens
Virtual Care from AXA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NHS App at every 3 weeks against Virtual Care from AXA's every 4 months. NHS App also leads on review sentiment (24% vs 0%). Virtual Care from AXA's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NHS App ships an update every 3 weeks, Virtual Care from AXA every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
NHS App versus Virtual Care from AXA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNHS AppVirtual Care from AXA
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (76 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews24.1% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings76 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB141 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperNHS DigitalAXA GLOBAL HEALTHCARE (UK) LIMITED

Customer experience

NHS App

All ratings76 ratings
Positive39.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative55.3%
Written reviews1,077 reviews
Positive24.1%
Neutral10.6%
Negative65.3%

Virtual Care from AXA

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Virtual Care from AXA

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NHS App

No in-app purchases

None

Virtual Care from AXA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NHS App free?
NHS App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Virtual Care from AXA free?
Virtual Care from AXA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NHS App or Virtual Care from AXA have ads?
Neither NHS App nor Virtual Care from AXA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NHS App or Virtual Care from AXA?
NHS App ships an update every 3 weeks, and Virtual Care from AXA every 4 months. Most recently, NHS App was updated on October 29, 2026 and Virtual Care from AXA on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons