# PulsePoint Respond vs Providence

The clearest difference is monetization model: PulsePoint Respond at free against Providence's free with in-app purchases. PulsePoint Respond also leads on chart position (#34 vs #160) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Providence's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (71% vs 63%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PulsePoint Respond against 4.8 for Providence. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 272K and 186K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of PulsePoint Respond's written reviews are positive against 71% of Providence's.

PulsePoint Respond ships an update every 2 months, Providence every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PulsePoint Respond | Providence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (272K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsepoint-respond/id500772134/reviews) | [4.8 (186K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/providence/id1306970679/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **272K** | 186K |
| Positive reviews | 63.0% of reviews | **71.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#34** | #160 |
| Size | 36 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PulsePoint Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/500772137) | [PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES - WASHINGTON](https://appshunter.io/developer/1280082086) |

## What reviewers say

### PulsePoint Respond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsepoint-respond/id500772134)

**Currently charting:** #34 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

This app connects to 911 to alert you about local emergencies, including cardiac events requiring CPR. It also provides notifications for other community incidents like fires and floods, and allows you to monitor live dispatch radio. It's designed to build informed and responsive communities.

**Highlights:** 911-connected emergency alerts, CPR needed notifications, Community incident alerts (fires, floods), Live dispatch radio monitoring, FirstNet Certified™ application

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Instant notifications
- 📍 Detailed incident location
- 💡 Customizable notifications
- 🚑 Helpful for first responders
- 🔍 Awareness of community emergencies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗺️ Lack of location filtering
- 🔇 Inconsistent notification reliability
- 🌍 Limited coverage in Canada/other countries
- 🔢 Too many notifications for large areas
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Incidents not always displayed in a timely manner
- Difficulty understanding response unit codes/abbreviations
- Location services issues causing inconsistent performance

**Requested features**

- Radius-based notification filtering
- Separate notification settings for each agency
- Ability to follow specific stations/departments
- Integration with mapping apps for navigation
- Customizable notification sounds and tones


### Providence

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/providence/id1306970679)

**Currently charting:** #160 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

Access all your healthcare needs from a single platform. Manage appointments, view medical records, pay bills, and discover relevant health programs and resources. Connect with your care team and find new providers easily.

**Highlights:** Connect with care team, Book appointments, Access medical records, View and pay bills, Find providers, Virtual urgent care, Health reminders

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient all-in-one healthcare app
- 🚀 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Helpful for managing appointments, prescriptions, and test results
- 👍 Prompt responses from healthcare providers
- 👍 Valuable for communicating with doctors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Confusing navigation and layout
- 🐛 Difficulty finding specific features or information
- 🐛 Unreliable virtual care options
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience across different devices
- 🐛 Frustrating issues with logging in and accessing account

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Inconsistent performance and crashes
- Syncing issues with test results and medical records

**Requested features**

- Improved search and navigation
- Better integration with external healthcare providers
- More intuitive layout and organization of information
- Enhanced accessibility for users with disabilities
- Seamless virtual care options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PulsePoint Respond free?

PulsePoint Respond is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Providence free?

Providence is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PulsePoint Respond or Providence?

PulsePoint Respond and Providence are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 272K and 186K ratings respectively.

### Do PulsePoint Respond or Providence have ads?

Neither PulsePoint Respond nor Providence shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PulsePoint Respond or Providence?

PulsePoint Respond ships an update every 2 months, and Providence every 3 weeks. Most recently, PulsePoint Respond was updated on October 18, 2026 and Providence on October 18, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PulsePoint Respond or Providence?

PulsePoint Respond currently peaks at #34 in the App Store charts, and Providence at #160. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*