Comparison

Spine vs CNS+

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

Head to head
About

Spine

Access essential medical literature and randomized trials in an easy-to-read format. This subscription-based service provides immediate access to updated content, helping medical professionals and students quickly review key studies and enhance their knowledge.

Highlights
  • Review seminal studies quickly
  • Server-based platform for immediate updates
  • Annual subscription service
  • Covers surgical and non-surgical management
  • Citation information for further study
  • Updated every 1-3 months
Features
Read full description

Spine: What’s the data?, 3rd Edition This is the new and improved version of an app that puts the power of knowledge in the palm of your hand! Essential literature, including a voluminous body of randomized, controlled trials, is reviewed and presented in an easy-to-read format. The user can review seminal studies on a topic in seconds. The application uses a server-based platform, so that new entries are made immediately available to the user. It functions as an annual subscription-based service. Staff surgeons, review and update your knowledge quickly, between clinic patients, if necessary! Residents and medical students, get bulletproof protection from unpleasant pimp sessions! PAs and NPs, get the information you need, fast! Four hundred references are included, covering topics in the major areas of surgical and non-surgical management. Citation information is provided, permitting the user to pursue additional, in-depth study. No matter what your level of training or expertise, this app can make you better! Users should be aware that the content of this app overlaps with that of another app, entitled "Neurosurgery: What’s the data?", which covers the breadth of neurosurgery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The annual subscription fee is $1.99. This is an auto-subscription app - content is updated every 1-3 months Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication. Terms of Use: https://whatsthedata.com/terms-of-use Privacy policy:  https://whatsthedata.com/privacy-policy

About

CNS+

Access a comprehensive collection of neurological surgery educational resources, including guidelines, publications, and courses. Manage your professional development with features like 'My Education' and 'My CME'.

Highlights
  • CNS Guidelines access
  • CNS Publications access
  • My Education & My CME integration
  • Case of the Month
  • Neurosurgery Watch
  • Podcasts
  • Courses & Webinars
Features
Read full description

CNS+ houses all the CNS online education and apps you love in one convenient place! Download the app today and access CNS Guidelines, CNS Publications and CNS education in the palm of your hand. CNS+ also integrates with your CNS profile and enables access to "My Education" and "My CME". Features include: - Case of the Month - Neurosurgery Watch - Podcasts - CNS Spotlight - Neurosurgery Surgery Survival Guide - Nexus - Courses - Webinars - And more!

Screenshots

Spine4 screens
CNS+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CNS+ at none against Spine's 1. CNS+ also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 26 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). Spine's advantage is ratings volume (59 vs 4). On price, rating 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. Spine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. CNS+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Spine against 5.0 for CNS+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spine has 59 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Spine's written reviews are positive against 100% of CNS+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spine ships an update every 26 months, CNS+ every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Spine versus CNS+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpineCNS+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (59 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings59 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 26 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB116 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperLimbix LLCCongress of Neurological Surgeons

Customer experience

Spine

All ratings59 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

CNS+

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spine

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Subscription3 Days trial$1.991 Year
None

CNS+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spine free?
Spine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CNS+ free?
CNS+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spine or CNS+?
CNS+ is rated higher. Spine averages 4.9 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while CNS+ averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Spine or CNS+ have ads?
Neither Spine nor CNS+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spine or CNS+?
Spine ships an update every 26 months, and CNS+ every 4 months. Most recently, Spine was updated on October 22, 2026 and CNS+ on October 8, 2026.

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