Comparison

As Needed. vs Lux Therapy

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

Head to head
About

As Needed.

This app helps you track as-needed medications, offering quick logging, safe dose spacing, and privacy-focused insights. It supports various unit types and provides visual usage patterns, all while keeping your health data securely on your device.

Highlights
  • Quick dose logging in seconds
  • Support for 29 unit types
  • Searchable medication database
  • Visual usage pattern charts
  • Privacy-conscious notifications
  • Siri Shortcuts integration
  • Local data storage only
Features
Read full description

Track As-Needed Medications with Privacy and Confidence AsNeeded is the privacy-first medication tracker designed specifically for PRN (as-needed) medications. Whether managing pain relief, anxiety medications, allergies, or any other as-needed prescriptions, AsNeeded helps you track doses safely—while keeping your health data completely private. Built for As-Needed Medications Unlike apps focused on daily medication schedules, AsNeeded understands the unique challenges of PRN medications. Quick logging, safe spacing between doses, and clear insights help you make informed decisions about when to take your next dose. Key Features Quick Dose Logging: - Log medications in seconds with one tap - Support for 29 unit types (tablets, mg, mL, puffs, drops, and more) - Smart defaults remember your typical doses - Backdate doses when you forget to log immediately - Add notes to track symptoms or side effects Medication Management: - Search 300,000+ medications via RxNorm integration - Use custom nicknames alongside clinical names - Track inventory and set refill reminders - Support for all dosage forms and strengths Powerful Insights: - Visual charts reveal usage patterns over time - Calendar heatmap shows daily medication habits - Statistics display average usage and trends - Searchable history of all medication events Reminders: - Flexible scheduling: one-time, daily, weekly, or custom - Privacy-conscious notifications (hide medication names) - Quick actions: "Mark as Taken" directly from notification - Gentle reminders that respect your preferences Siri Shortcuts: "Hey Siri, I took 2 ibuprofen" "How much acetaminophen have I taken today?" "List my medications in AsNeeded" True Privacy: - All data stored locally on your device only - No account required—start using immediately - No cloud sync, servers, or data collection - No ads, analytics, or tracking of any kind - Export your data anytime in JSON format - Open source code you can inspect (GPL-3.0) Perfect For: - Pain management (track intervals between doses) - Anxiety/panic medications (log as-needed usage) - Allergy medications (monitor seasonal patterns) - Migraine treatments (identify triggers) - Sleep aids (track effectiveness) - Any PRN or as-needed prescription Why Choose AsNeeded? - Privacy First: Your health data never leaves your device. No servers, no cloud, no company has access to your information. - Always Free: Every feature is free forever. No premium tiers, no subscriptions, no ads. Supported by optional tips only. - Open Source: Transparent development. Review our code on GitHub. Community-driven improvements. - Thoughtful Design: Clean, modern interface built with SwiftUI. Supports Dark Mode, Dynamic Type, and VoiceOver. - Reliable: Offline-first design means AsNeeded works anywhere, anytime. No internet required. Additional Features - Apple Watch companion app for quick logging - Data export/import for backups - Technical logs for troubleshooting - Comprehensive medication event history - Support for complex dosing scenarios AsNeeded respects both your health and your privacy. It's the medication tracker that works the way as-needed medications actually work—quick to log, clear about safety, and completely private. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Medical Disclaimer: This app is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this app. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.

About

Lux Therapy

This app measures ambient light levels to help optimize your exposure for better mood, sleep, and potential Vitamin D synthesis. Set custom light exposure goals and receive reminders to help you achieve them.

Highlights
  • Measures ambient light in lux-minutes
  • Estimates Vitamin D synthesis
  • Customizable light exposure goals
  • Reminders for light exposure goals
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

Lux Therapy App is a simple light measurement app designed to help optimize your exposure to natural and artificial light for enhanced well-being. The app measures ambient light levels in lux-minutes for potential mood enhancement, circadian rhythm regulation, and overall health. Additionally, Lux Therapy estimates your potential Vitamin D synthesis based on light exposure in your current environment.  This app is designed as a simple light calculator to estimate the amount of light exposure you are getting in your current environment as that environment changes throughout the day. Manually set to full sun, daylight, dim room, cloudy day, office, late night, etc. Helpful to pinpoint and estimate light exposure goals. The app empowers users to harness the power of light for improved energy, focus, and wellness. Key Features: Lux (Light Exposure) Measurement: Accurately measures ambient light intensity in real-time using your device's light sensor. Lux (Light Exposure) Calculator: Measures the amount of light you are receiving throughout the day in different environments. Lux (Light Exposure) Goals: Set a customizable light exposure goal and use the light exposure tabs to estimate if you are getting enough light in your environment daily. Notifications to remind you to hit your customizable light exposure goal. Vitamin D Estimation: Calculates potential Vitamin D production based on light exposure, skin type, current location, and cloud cover. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with customizable settings for all users. Ideal For: Individuals seeking to improve mood, regulate sleep, or boost Vitamin D levels through optimized light exposure.

Screenshots

As Needed.4 screens
Lux Therapy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: As Needed. at 100% against Lux Therapy's 0%. As Needed. also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and device support (3 vs 1). Lux Therapy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume and ads 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. As Needed. sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Lux Therapy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

As Needed. holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of As Needed.'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Lux Therapy's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
As Needed. versus Lux Therapy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAs Needed.Lux Therapy
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB10 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDaniel HartAeralas

Customer experience

As Needed.

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lux Therapy

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

As Needed.

Subscriptions3
  • Supporter$1.991 Month
  • Advocate$4.991 Month
  • Champion$9.991 Month
One-time3
  • Tip: Thanks!$0.99
  • Tip: Cheers!$2.99
  • Tip: Ovation!$4.99
None

Lux Therapy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is As Needed. free?
As Needed. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lux Therapy free?
Lux Therapy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, As Needed. or Lux Therapy?
As Needed. is rated higher. As Needed. averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Lux Therapy averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do As Needed. or Lux Therapy have ads?
Neither As Needed. nor Lux Therapy shows ads.

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