# BCBSTN vs athenaPatient

The clearest difference is review sentiment: athenaPatient at 73% against BCBSTN's 14%. athenaPatient also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.4) and ratings volume (177K vs 373). BCBSTN's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

athenaPatient holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: athenaPatient has 177K ratings behind it against 373, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of BCBSTN's written reviews are positive against 73% of athenaPatient's.

BCBSTN ships an update every 2 months, athenaPatient every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BCBSTN | athenaPatient |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (373 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bcbstn/id656808642/reviews) | **[4.9 (177K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/athenapatient/id1644169294/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 373 | **177K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.5% of reviews | **72.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #193 | **#11** |
| Size | 66 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee](https://appshunter.io/developer/656808645) | [athenahealth](https://appshunter.io/developer/535158438) |

## What reviewers say

### BCBSTN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bcbstn/id656808642)

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

Access your health plan information, find care providers, and manage your benefits with this app. It offers quick login, live chat support, and digital ID cards for convenient healthcare management.

**Highlights:** Faster login with Touch/Face ID, Live online chat support, All plan coverage and costs in one place, Digital Member ID card, Find care providers and costs, Easy telehealth access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- 🔍 Helpful provider search
- 🏆 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⚠️ Unreliable and unstable
- ⏳ Constant maintenance issues
- 🔒 Login and authentication problems

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot enter login information
- App entirely non-functional
- Verification code entry not working
- Keyboard issues on login screen

**Requested features**

- Add Face ID or fingerprint login
- Improve provider search and filtering
- Allow adding medical history
- Fix digital ID card integration


### athenaPatient

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/athenapatient/id1644169294)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

Access your health information and communicate securely with your care team. View test results, message providers, schedule appointments, and check in before visits. This app requires an existing athenahealth Patient Portal account.

**Highlights:** Secure login with facial recognition/touch ID, View medical test results, Message your care team, Self-schedule appointments, Pre-visit check-in, Attend virtual visits, Get directions to appointments

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 All medical information in one place
- 💡 Convenient communication with providers
- 🙌 Responsive app
- 🔒 Secure access to medical records

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🤔 Confusing navigation
- ⚠️ Lack of notifications for new messages
- 🔍 Missing key features (e.g., printing, syncing with Apple Health)
- 🕰️ Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes or shows errors
- App logs out users frequently
- Inconsistent functionality between app and website
- Inability to access medical information while traveling outside the US

**Requested features**

- Add push notifications for new messages and updates
- Improve integration with Apple Health and other health apps
- Allow printing and sharing of medical records
- Enhance customization options for a more personalized experience
- Provide better guidance and tutorials for new users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BCBSTN free?

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

### Is athenaPatient free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BCBSTN or athenaPatient?

athenaPatient is rated higher. BCBSTN averages 2.4 out of 5 from 373 ratings, while athenaPatient averages 4.9 from 177K ratings.

### Do BCBSTN or athenaPatient have ads?

Neither BCBSTN nor athenaPatient shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BCBSTN or athenaPatient?

BCBSTN ships an update every 2 months, and athenaPatient every 3 weeks. Most recently, BCBSTN was updated on October 15, 2026 and athenaPatient on October 17, 2026.

### Which is more popular, BCBSTN or athenaPatient?

BCBSTN currently peaks at #193 in the App Store charts, and athenaPatient at #11. 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.*