# CVS vs Passbook

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CVS at none against Passbook's 9. CVS also leads on ratings volume (14K vs 1.7K) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Passbook's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (42% vs 18%). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Passbook sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. CVS asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for CVS against 4.5 for Passbook. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CVS has 14K ratings behind it against 1.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 18% of CVS's written reviews are positive against 42% of Passbook's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CVS | Passbook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cvs/id602716057/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/passbook-wallet-pass-creator/id1633472455/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 1.7K |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | **42.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#75** |
| Size | 636 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CVS](https://appshunter.io/developer/602716060) | [HAPPYPIXEL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1421366219) |

## What reviewers say

### CVS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cvs/id602716057)

Manage prescriptions, schedule health appointments, and access exclusive deals. This app simplifies healthcare and shopping by offering features like prescription refills, video consultations, and photo printing for convenient pickup.

**Highlights:** Prescription management and refills, Video chat with healthcare providers, Schedule vaccine and clinic appointments, Access ExtraCare deals and rewards, Order photo prints for same-day pickup, View weekly ads and store information

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient online ordering
- 💡 Auto-refill option
- 👍 Helpful pharmacy staff
- 🚀 Efficient app navigation
- 💡 Ability to view order history

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🐛 Inaccurate prescription status updates
- 🐛 Forced updates causing issues
- 👎 Difficult to use on iPad
- 👎 Lack of landscape mode support

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log out of account
- Prescription refill orders disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior between app and website
- Age verification process requiring excessive tapping

**Requested features**

- Ability to add coupons in advance
- Option to select which prescriptions to deliver
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Improved prescription status tracking
- Easier way to sign out of the app


### Passbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/passbook-wallet-pass-creator/id1633472455)

**Currently charting:** #75 Top Grossing · Shopping (US App Store)

Easily create custom Wallet passes for your Apple Wallet. Add membership cards, event tickets, or gift cards by uploading QR codes and editing templates. Advanced features and premium templates are available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Create custom Wallet passes, Add membership cards, Add event tickets, Add gift cards, Upload QR codes, Edit custom cards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Monthly Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro | $8.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Lots of customization options
- 💡 Ability to create passes for anything
- 🚀 Simple and straightforward

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 💰 Subscription model
- 🔒 Limited compatibility with existing cards/passes
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive interface

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to create passes
- Unable to add or manually create passes
- Incorrect QR codes displayed on passes
- Passes not syncing properly with Apple Wallet

**Requested features**

- Add ability to edit existing passes
- Support more barcode/QR code types
- Offer a one-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Improve customization options and flexibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CVS free?

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

### Is Passbook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CVS or Passbook?

Passbook is rated higher. CVS averages 4.4 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Passbook averages 4.5 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do CVS or Passbook have ads?

CVS shows ads; Passbook does not.

### Which is updated more often, CVS or Passbook?

CVS ships an update monthly, and Passbook monthly. Most recently, CVS was updated on October 31, 2026 and Passbook on October 30, 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.*