# Nursing Central vs RNotes

The clearest difference is ads: Nursing Central at none against RNotes's shown. Nursing Central also leads on ratings volume (10K vs 26) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). RNotes's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nursing Central sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year and RNotes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Nursing Central against 5.0 for RNotes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nursing Central has 10K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Nursing Central ships an update every 6 weeks, RNotes every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nursing Central | RNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nursing-central/id300420397/reviews) | **[5.0 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rnotes-nurses-pocket-guide/id1145374210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | 74.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#49** | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) | [Skyscape Medpresso Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/818609416) |

## What reviewers say

### Nursing Central

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nursing-central/id300420397)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This comprehensive nursing app integrates multiple best-selling resources to provide quick access to vital clinical information. It offers detailed data on diseases, drugs, tests, and procedures, along with a medical dictionary and access to the PubMed database. Features include study tools, custom notes, and multimedia content to enhance learning and efficiency for healthcare professionals and students.

**Highlights:** Drug information with updates, Medical dictionary with 75,000+ entries, Laboratory and diagnostic test details, Disease and disorder information, PubMed database access, Exclusive study system (Grasp™), Custom notes and highlights

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intravenous Medications | $49.99 | per year |
| Drugs and Tools Renewal | $49.99 | per year |
| Nursing Central | $99.99 | per year |
| NCLEX-RN Quest | $19.99 | one-time |
| RNotes 5th Edition | $29.99 | one-time |
| RNotes | $29.99 | one-time |
| Disaster Nursing | $39.99 | one-time |
| Taylor's Clinical | $42.99 | one-time |
| Nurse's Pocket Guide | $49.99 | one-time |
| Nurse's Pocket Guide 16e | $49.99 | one-time |
| Nurses' Health Assessment | $59.99 | one-time |
| Nursing Central | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Comprehensive reference
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Quick access to information
- 👍 Helpful for nursing students and professionals
- 🚀 Centralized medical resources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with new devices
- 🐛 Outdated content after subscription expires
- 🐛 Syncing and login problems
- 🐛 Slow performance and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Syncing problems across devices
- Outdated content and lack of updates
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Offline access to content
- More detailed disease and medication information
- Integration with electronic medical records
- Video tutorials and demonstrations
- Improved search and filtering capabilities


### RNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rnotes-nurses-pocket-guide/id1145374210)

This medical reference app provides essential nursing information for students and professionals. It offers quick access to clinical content, NCLEX tips, and safety alerts, with updated guidelines and laboratory values. An in-app purchase unlocks all features and ongoing updates.

**Highlights:** Nursing Alerts for critical safety information, HIPAA- and OSHA-compliant notes, Quick-access tabs for fast navigation, Highlighted critical laboratory values, Interventions and patient education, ACLS resuscitation procedures

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RNotes 1/Y Sub | $29.99 | per year |
| RNotes®: Nurse's Clinical Pock | $29.99 | one-time |
| RNotes Ed.6 | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nursing Central free?

Nursing Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nursing Central or RNotes?

RNotes is rated higher. Nursing Central averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while RNotes averages 5.0 from 26 ratings.

### Do Nursing Central or RNotes have ads?

RNotes shows ads; Nursing Central does not.

### Which is updated more often, Nursing Central or RNotes?

Nursing Central ships an update every 6 weeks, and RNotes every 5 months. Most recently, Nursing Central was updated on September 24, 2026 and RNotes on September 2, 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.*