# Spine vs CNS+

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.

Both are free to download. Spine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. CNS+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spine | CNS+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spine-whats-the-data/id934859379/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cns-plus/id1580882992/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **59** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 20 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Limbix LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/490505327) | [Congress of Neurological Surgeons](https://appshunter.io/developer/551149057) |

## What reviewers say

### Spine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spine-whats-the-data/id934859379)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $1.99 | per year |


### CNS+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cns-plus/id1580882992)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*