As Needed. vs StarDose
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
StarDose
This app helps you track if you've taken your daily medications, eliminating the guesswork. Log doses with a simple tap and view your status instantly on your Lock Screen or Apple Watch. Your data remains private on your device.
- Log doses with a tap
- Lock Screen and Apple Watch widgets
- Daily reminders with snooze
- 30-day history
- Undo any log
- Private, on-device data storage
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StarDose answers one question: "Did I take it today?" If you take one to three medications daily — birth control, ADHD meds, antidepressants, thyroid medication, vitamins — you know the feeling. You get a reminder, tap it away, and twenty minutes later have no idea whether you actually took the pill or just dismissed the notification. StarDose ends that. A tap logs your dose. Your Lock Screen widget and Apple Watch show your status at a glance, all day. No second-guessing. WHAT'S FREE — FOREVER • Add unlimited medications • Tap to log doses from the Today view • Daily reminders with snooze • 30-day history • Undo any log PRIVACY FIRST No accounts. No analytics. No cloud. Your medication data never leaves your device. StarDose makes no network requests of any kind. DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE For the person who just needs to know if they took their pill this morning. PRIVACY • Everything stored privately on your device STARDOSE PREMIUM — $4.99 ONE-TIME • Apple Watch app and complications • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets • Tap-to-log directly from widgets
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: StarDose at every 3 weeks against As Needed.'s every 2 months. As Needed.'s advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. As Needed. sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and StarDose sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for As Needed. against 5.0 for StarDose. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
As Needed. ships an update every 2 months, StarDose every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | As Needed. | StarDose |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Hart | Matthew Dominey |
In-app purchases
As Needed.
- Supporter$1.991 Month
- Advocate$4.991 Month
- Champion$9.991 Month
- Tip: Thanks!$0.99
- Tip: Cheers!$2.99
- Tip: Ovation!$4.99
StarDose
- StarDose Premium$4.99









