Comparison

StimRouter Plus vs Patient Controller RC

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

Head to head
About

StimRouter Plus

Control neuromodulation devices with this app. Select stimulation programs and adjust levels for connected devices individually. A compatible device is required for operation.

Highlights
  • Control stimulation programs
  • Adjust stimulation levels
  • Manage individual devices
  • Connect to StimRouter Plus system
Features
Read full description

The StimRouter Plus™ mobile application is used in conjunction with the StimRouter Plus® Neuromodulation System. With StimRouter Plus™, the user will now have control over the stimulation of all connected devices, including selecting different stimulation programs as well as the stimulation level. Connected devices can be controlled individually by selecting the desired StimRouter Plus® device. *Please note that a StimRouter Plus® device is required to utilize and operate the StimRouter Plus™ application.

About

Patient Controller RC

Manage your Abbott neuromodulation device programs from your smartphone. Control stimulation settings, monitor your device, and connect with your clinician remotely for adjustments and telehealth sessions.

Highlights
  • Turn stimulation ON/OFF
  • Select stimulation programs
  • Adjust stimulation amplitude
  • Check device battery
  • Monitor charging
  • Remote clinician connection
  • Secure in-app video chat
Read full description

This app is for use with Abbott rechargeable devices including the Eterna™ Spinal Cord Stimulation system and the Liberta RC™ DBS system. The Patient Controller (PC) Application was developed by Abbott for people living with chronic pain and movement disorders who are treated by Abbott neuromodulation devices. This application helps patients conveniently manage the programs prescribed by their physicians and uses Bluetooth® wireless technology to communicate between the implanted stimulator, Charger and the Patient Controller App. The Patient Controller Application runs on Abbott recommended devices (as mentioned below) and is easy to use, while the wireless interface provides patients the convenience of managing prescribed stimulation settings from a familiar iOS device. Some of the key functions available for patients include: - Turn stimulation ON/OFF - Select stimulation programs for changing therapy needs - Adjust stimulation amplitude - Check device battery - Monitor charging of the implanted stimulator - Adjust charger settings - Turn on MRI mode for MR Conditional systems - Activate and de-activate Surgery Mode In addition, NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic on the PC app enables users to connect with their clinicians for routine programming adjustments remotely. Secure in-app video chat enables telehealth sessions directly from within the PC application. THIS APP DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE, NOR SHOULD BE REGARDED AS COMPRISING MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY NATURE. THE APP IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT AND TREATMENT BY A PHYSICIAN OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. PATIENTS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO MAKING ANY MEDICAL DECISIONS. IF YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES OR YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. Note: - This application will work on select Appleⱡ iPhoneⱡ devices running iOS 15.6.1 or later. - For a list of compatible devices see https://www.NMmobiledevicesync.com/cp - For the Privacy Policy see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - For the Terms of Use see https://www.virtualclinic.abbott/policies - ⱡ iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. - Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG

Screenshots

StimRouter Plus4 screens
Patient Controller RC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: StimRouter Plus at 5.0 against Patient Controller RC's 3.1. Patient Controller RC's advantage is ratings volume (112 vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 13 months). 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StimRouter Plus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patient Controller RC has 112 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StimRouter Plus ships an update every 13 months, Patient Controller RC every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
StimRouter Plus versus Patient Controller RC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStimRouter PlusPatient Controller RC
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.1 (112 ratings)
Positive reviews—21.7% of reviews
Number of ratings2112 — better
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.6 — better15.6.1
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB79 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBioventus LLCAbbott

Customer experience

StimRouter Plus

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Patient Controller RC

All ratings113 ratings
Positive44.2%
Neutral13.3%
Negative42.5%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive21.7%
Neutral14.1%
Negative64.1%

Bugs and requests

StimRouter Plus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Patient Controller RC

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App incompatible with iPhone 15, 16, 17 series
  • Frequent disconnections from device requiring app restart
  • App crashes and won't open
  • Password update rejection
  • Incompatibility with iOS 18.3.2 and newer
Show 1 more
  • Battery indicator not displaying correctly on newer phones

Requested features

9 requests
  • Support for iPhone 15, 16, 17 and newer models
  • Android app version
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Sleep timer functionality
  • User-adjustable intermittent pulse programs
Show 4 more
  • Screen brightness control for nighttime use
  • Remote programming capability
  • Faster Bluetooth connection speed
  • Monthly bug fix and security patches

In-app purchases

None

StimRouter Plus

No in-app purchases

None

Patient Controller RC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StimRouter Plus free?
StimRouter Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Patient Controller RC free?
Patient Controller RC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StimRouter Plus or Patient Controller RC?
StimRouter Plus is rated higher. StimRouter Plus averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Patient Controller RC averages 3.1 from 112 ratings.
Do StimRouter Plus or Patient Controller RC have ads?
Neither StimRouter Plus nor Patient Controller RC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StimRouter Plus or Patient Controller RC?
StimRouter Plus ships an update every 13 months, and Patient Controller RC every 4 months. Most recently, StimRouter Plus was updated on September 24, 2026 and Patient Controller RC on August 24, 2026.

Other comparisons