Comparison

NurseThink® NoteBook vs NurseBrain® Synapse

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

Head to head
About

NurseThink® NoteBook

This app helps nursing students enhance critical thinking and clinical judgment through structured note-taking. It organizes information conceptually, aids in patient care application, and prepares users for exams like the NCLEX®.

Highlights
  • Conceptual organization
  • Searchable diagnosis index
  • High-frequency patient alerts
  • NCLEX® test plan alignment
  • Quality and safety competencies
  • Backup and restore notes
  • Grade tracker
Features
Read full description

“Try before you buy" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. In-App purchase required to unlock all content. The NurseThink® for Students: The NoteBook App saves time studying! Take notes for critical thinking and clinical judgment in every course, class and clinical. NurseThink® for Students: The NoteBook, 3rd Edition: is an unique tool that can be used in class, independent study, collaboration, and even clinical preparation. Designed to raise the level of cognitive learning in a shorter amount of time, it allows students to move from 'acquiring' knowledge into application in patient care. Note taking for prioritization in nursing school. Emphasis is placed on helping nursing students clearly and consistently handle large volumes of information. With a conceptual approach, students will explore application related to NCLEX® and QSEN (quality and safety) related standards for nursing practice. From fundamentals, to medical-surgical, mental health, community health, maternal-child and even leadership, students using this tool will learn how to learn while taking notes. NurseThink® Notebook will help with all exams, checkoffs, and assignments. BRAIN EXERCISE TO HELP EVERY NURSING STUDENT EVERY SEMESTER AND ON NCLEX®. When students use this note-taking system daily, their critical thinking and clinical reasoning muscles will grow. Key Features * Organized by Concept * Searchable alphabetical diagnosis index * High frequency patient alerts from AARP, AHRQ, CDC and Healthy People 2020 * Next-Gen Learning for the NCLEX® test plan * Quality and Safety Competencies * Peer and faculty review sign offs * Backup and restore allowing student to keep building on notes they have already taken instead of starting over each semester. * Grade tracker * History * Add bookmarks, audio notes, text notes 
Content licensed from printed edition ISBN 10: 0998734764 Content licensed from printed edition ISBN 13: 9780998734767 SUBSCRIPTION : Please purchase a yearly auto-renewing subscription to receive content access and continuous updates. Yearly auto-renewing payments- $47.99 Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user and auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-30000 Privacy Policy - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx Author(s): Tim J. Bristol PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN; Karin J. Sherrill RN, MSN, CNE, ANEF, FAADN Publisher: NurseTim, Inc

About

NurseBrain® Synapse

This app digitizes nursing report sheets, allowing nurses to manage their entire shift from a single, connected platform. It helps organize patient information, tasks, and notes, facilitating confident handoffs and efficient documentation.

Highlights
  • Customizable digital brain sheets
  • Real-time shift tracking
  • Organized patient handoff views
  • Voice and quick entry documentation
  • Generate progress notes and care plans
  • Cross-device compatibility (phone, watch)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Less rewriting. More time for your patients. Nurses already rely on a report sheet or brain sheet to stay organized. NurseBrain® Synapse takes that same workflow and turns it into something you can use throughout your shift, so the information you capture once keeps working for you at report, at the bedside, and at handoff. Instead of juggling paper, memory, and the EHR, everything stays connected in one place. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH NURSEBRAIN SYNAPSE Your brain sheet. Your workflow. Build a brain sheet around the details you actually track. Choose a template for your unit, customize the fields and layout, use it digitally during your shift, or export a clean PDF when you want paper. Stay organized throughout your shift Keep patients, tasks, notes, and handoffs together. See what needs attention now, what is done, and what is coming up next, without relying on memory. Give report without starting from scratch Each patient has a clear, organized view with SBAR, notes, and updates. Everything is already structured, so you are not scrambling when it is time to give report. Capture information as you go Use voice or quick entry to record updates during your shift. No need to remember everything later. Turn your shift into usable notes The information you already captured can be turned into progress notes and care plans, ready to copy into your charting. Share a handoff without retyping Hand off a patient to another NurseBrain Synapse user by QR code. Works the way nurses actually work You are constantly switching between patients, report sheets, and the EHR. NurseBrain Synapse is designed to fit into that reality. Use it at the workstation, on your phone during rounds, or on your watch for quick updates. Built for real nursing shifts Bedside nurses, travel nurses, charge and resource nurses, and nursing students. Secure and nurse-built NurseBrain Synapse is HIPAA-compliant and designed with patient privacy in mind. Built by nurses, based on real workflows, not theory. Free trial, then one subscription Free to download. The Brain Sheet Builder is free to use. Everything else is included in one subscription, and you can start with a free trial. Plans, prices, and trial details are shown in the app before you subscribe. Use fictional examples while you explore. Before adding real patient information, follow your organization's policies. Replace your report sheet and bring structure, clarity, and confidence back to your shift.

Screenshots

NurseThink® NoteBook4 screens
NurseBrain® Synapse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: NurseBrain® Synapse at none against NurseThink® NoteBook's shown. NurseBrain® Synapse also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months). NurseThink® NoteBook's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. NurseThink® NoteBook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $47.99 per year and NurseBrain® Synapse sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NurseBrain® Synapse holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NurseBrain® Synapse has 31 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NurseThink® NoteBook ships an update every 7 months, NurseBrain® Synapse weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
NurseThink® NoteBook versus NurseBrain® Synapse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNurseThink® NoteBookNurseBrain® Synapse
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.1 (31 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—85.1% of reviews
Number of ratings331 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#129 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB146 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSkyscape Medpresso IncNursebrain LLC

Customer experience

NurseThink® NoteBook

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

NurseBrain® Synapse

All ratings31 ratings
Positive77.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative19.4%
Written reviews47 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative12.8%

Bugs and requests

NurseThink® NoteBook

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NurseBrain® Synapse

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App won't let users sign up and make an account
  • Cannot log in after signing up
  • App glitches and won't load
  • Cannot edit active patient list
  • Patient list duplicates entries
Show 2 more
  • Desktop version not functioning
  • Nursing AI feature returns errors

Requested features

4 requests
  • Include more specialties, specifically for outpatients
  • Add a 'Return' button for new lines in text fields
  • Ability to time medications
  • 24-hour clock option

In-app purchases

2 purchases

NurseThink® NoteBook

Subscriptions1
  • Nurse Think Notes 1 Y sub$47.991 Year
One-time1
  • Nurse Think Notes$29.99
3 purchases

NurseBrain® Synapse

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Premium Access7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • Quarterly Student Access$29.993 Months
  • Yearly Premium Access7 Days trial$149.991 Year

Questions

Is NurseThink® NoteBook free?
NurseThink® NoteBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NurseBrain® Synapse free?
NurseBrain® Synapse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NurseThink® NoteBook or NurseBrain® Synapse?
NurseBrain® Synapse is rated higher. NurseThink® NoteBook averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while NurseBrain® Synapse averages 4.1 from 31 ratings.
Do NurseThink® NoteBook or NurseBrain® Synapse have ads?
NurseThink® NoteBook shows ads; NurseBrain® Synapse does not.
Which is updated more often, NurseThink® NoteBook or NurseBrain® Synapse?
NurseThink® NoteBook ships an update every 7 months, and NurseBrain® Synapse weekly. Most recently, NurseThink® NoteBook was updated on October 3, 2026 and NurseBrain® Synapse on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons