# Prevention vs AARP Staying Sharp

The clearest difference is ads: Prevention at none against AARP Staying Sharp's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Prevention sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and AARP Staying Sharp sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $20.00 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 — 4.6 for Prevention against 4.7 for AARP Staying Sharp. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Prevention's written reviews are positive against 52% of AARP Staying Sharp's.

Prevention ships an update every 2 months, AARP Staying Sharp every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Prevention | AARP Staying Sharp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prevention/id470598964/reviews) | **[4.7 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-staying-sharp/id1583055598/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | **52.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hearst Communications, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342026653) | [AARP](https://appshunter.io/developer/394286732) |

## What reviewers say

### Prevention

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prevention/id470598964)

Access expert advice, fresh ideas, and health secrets to live a healthier, fitter, and stronger life. Get the latest health research delivered to you, with options for free previews and social sharing.

**Highlights:** Expert health advice, Latest health research, Fresh health ideas, Social sharing of content, Timed issue previews, Subscription options

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Prevention Monthly Sub | $2.99 | per month |
| Prevention Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| January 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| February 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| March 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| April 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| October 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| February 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |
| June 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |
| January 2014 | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Informative and helpful content
- 💻 Convenient digital access
- 📱 Easy to use app
- 🌟 Enjoyable reading experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Difficulty accessing content
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to download or access issues
- App freezes or becomes unresponsive
- Subscription issues and billing problems
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Bookmark feature to save progress
- Offline reading mode
- Ability to access past issues
- Improved navigation and search


### AARP Staying Sharp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-staying-sharp/id1583055598)

This app offers science-based challenges and expert advice to improve brain health, focusing on memory, focus, and digital well-being. It provides interactive tools and exercises to help users build lasting, brain-healthy habits.

**Highlights:** Science-based brain health challenges, Expert advice on memory and focus, Digital decluttering strategies, Interactive tools and exercises, Progress saving across devices, Earn AARP Rewards points

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AARP Membership | $20.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful and practical exercises
- 🧠 Effective for improving mental sharpness
- 🎮 Fun and engaging games
- 🔍 Useful for monitoring brain health
- 💡 Recommended by healthcare professionals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Recurring login issues
- 🚫 Limited game selection
- 🔁 Endless login loops
- 🤯 Confusing user experience
- 🚫 Inaccessible games

**Reported bugs**

- Games not launching properly
- App freezing or crashing
- Inability to access core features

**Requested features**

- Expand game library
- Improve login and navigation experience
- Add more accessibility features
- Provide clearer instructions and guidance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Prevention free?

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

### Is AARP Staying Sharp free?

AARP Staying Sharp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp?

AARP Staying Sharp is rated higher. Prevention averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while AARP Staying Sharp averages 4.7 from 3K ratings.

### Do Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp have ads?

AARP Staying Sharp shows ads; Prevention does not.

### Which is updated more often, Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp?

Prevention ships an update every 2 months, and AARP Staying Sharp every 5 weeks. Most recently, Prevention was updated on October 15, 2026 and AARP Staying Sharp on October 14, 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.*