Comparison

Pharmaceutical Journal vs NHS App

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

Head to head
About

Pharmaceutical Journal

Stay updated with the latest pharmacy news, analysis, and learning articles. Access in-depth insights on drugs, pharmacy practice, and healthcare policy. This resource provides authoritative peer-reviewed content for professionals in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Highlights
  • Daily updated pharmacy news
  • Analysis and features on medicines
  • Learning articles and CPD
  • Insight into drug development
  • Healthcare policy updates
  • Peer-reviewed resources
Features
Read full description

Keep in touch with the world of pharmacy and medicines with The Pharmaceutical Journal app. Updated daily, you can access the latest content from The Pharmaceutical Journal on your iPhone or iPad at home, at work and on the move. In The Pharmaceutical Journal app you’ll find the latest news, analysis, features, opinion and learning articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical sciences. The Pharmaceutical Journal publishes authoritative peer-reviewed resources on the clinical management of disease in relation to medicines and up-to-date information about advances in pharmacy and drug development, along with review articles, perspectives and evidence-based CPD articles covering topics from drug discovery to clinical pharmacology and pharmacy. You can access the app for free if you are a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or have a personal subscription to the pharmaceutical-journal.com website. The Pharmaceutical Journal is published by Pharmaceutical Press, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s knowledge business.

About

NHS App

Access a range of NHS services securely from your smartphone or tablet. Request repeat prescriptions, view test results, manage appointments, and receive messages from your GP surgery. You can also manage services for others if granted access.

Highlights
  • Request repeat prescriptions
  • View test results
  • Manage appointments
  • Access 111 online
  • Find nearby NHS services
  • Manage health for others
  • Receive messages from GP surgery
Features
Read full description

The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the app if you are aged 13 or over. You must be registered with an NHS GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man. You can also log in through the NHS website on a computer to use NHS App services. Access NHS services
 ---------------------- Use the NHS App to access your NHS services, anytime and anywhere. You can request repeat prescriptions, use 111 online, find nearby NHS services and more. Depending on your GP surgery, you may also be able to book appointments and contact your surgery about a health problem. Manage your health
 -------------------- The NHS App gives you a convenient way to view your health information, including your test results. You can manage your upcoming appointments and prescription requests. You can also make choices about your health, like your organ donation decision.

 Receive messages
 ------------------- You can get important messages from your GP surgery and other NHS services through the app. Turning on notifications can alert you to new messages.

 Manage services for other people
 ---------------------------------
 You can switch profiles to access services for other people in the NHS App, such as a child or family member. Your GP surgery needs to give you access and you must both share the same surgery.

 Log in securely
 --------------- The NHS App will guide you through setting up an NHS login if you do not have one already. You will be asked to prove who you are. The app will then securely connect to information from your NHS services.

If your iPhone or iPad supports Touch ID or Face ID, you can use it to log in, every time you use the app.

Screenshots

Pharmaceutical Journal4 screens
NHS App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NHS App at 2.7 against Pharmaceutical Journal's 1.0. NHS App also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (75 vs 1). Pharmaceutical Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

NHS App holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NHS App has 75 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Pharmaceutical Journal's written reviews are positive against 21% of NHS App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pharmaceutical Journal ships an update every 6 months, NHS App every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pharmaceutical Journal versus NHS App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPharmaceutical JournalNHS App
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)2.7 (75 ratings) — better
Positive reviews19.0% of reviews21.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings175 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB13 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperRoyal Pharmaceutical Society of Great BritainNHS Digital

Customer experience

Pharmaceutical Journal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive19.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative76.2%

NHS App

All ratings75 ratings
Positive38.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative56.0%
Written reviews945 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral10.7%
Negative68.3%

Bugs and requests

Pharmaceutical Journal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NHS App

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to log in after recent update
  • Blank screens and loading issues
  • Incorrect or missing appointment details
  • Syncing problems with GP records

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to book appointments directly
  • Improved integration with other health apps
  • Inclusion of full medical history
  • Persistent login and biometric support
  • Notification system for prescription status

In-app purchases

None

Pharmaceutical Journal

No in-app purchases

None

NHS App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pharmaceutical Journal free?
Pharmaceutical Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NHS App free?
NHS App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pharmaceutical Journal or NHS App?
NHS App is rated higher. Pharmaceutical Journal averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while NHS App averages 2.7 from 75 ratings.
Do Pharmaceutical Journal or NHS App have ads?
Neither Pharmaceutical Journal nor NHS App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pharmaceutical Journal or NHS App?
Pharmaceutical Journal ships an update every 6 months, and NHS App every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pharmaceutical Journal was updated on September 9, 2026 and NHS App on September 25, 2026.

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