Comparison

RNotes® vs plusRN

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

Head to head
About

RNotes®

This clinical reference app provides nurses and students with quick access to essential medical information, including guidelines, procedures, and exam preparation tools. It features full-color images, charts, and customizable notes to enhance patient care and learning.

Highlights
  • Quick-reference clinical nursing information
  • Updated AHA guidelines
  • Full-color images and charts
  • NCLEX exam topic indicators
  • Step-by-step procedures and assessment guidance
  • Customizable notes and highlights
  • Nursing alerts for critical safety information
Features
Read full description

** The essential clinical companion for nurses and students ** ABOUT RNOTES® RNotes is a quick-reference application that puts the latest clinically-focused nursing information at your fingertips, helping you improve patient care. Find answers fast by browsing or searching, then review clinical findings, collaborative management, and quick-read information along with full-color images and charts. The latest edition also helps students prepare for the NCLEX examinations by noting topics that are covered on the exam. FEATURES • Answers to the questions faced in clinical rotations • Updated AHA guidelines • Full-color images and figures • NCLEX icons indicating topics found on licensure exam • Step-by-step procedures and enhanced physical assessment guidance • Details for interpreting ECG, lab values, priority interventions, and more • Convenient tables and charts for finding information quickly • Ability to make custom notes and highlights within entries • Nursing alerts highlighting critical safety information • “Favorites” for bookmarking important topics Author: Ehren Myers Publisher: F.A. Davis Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

About

plusRN

This AI-powered clinical companion assists nursing students and professionals in developing clinical judgment and core competencies. It guides users through patient care scenarios and offers on-demand answers from an AI preceptor. The tool supports learning the nursing process and enhances confidence in providing safe, effective care.

Highlights
  • AI-enhanced clinical training
  • On-demand AI preceptor (Nurse Gia)
  • Clinical Judgement Measurement Model (CJMM) alignment
  • Real-world patient care scenarios
  • SBAR communication script
  • Best-practice skills and care tips
Read full description

WHAT IS plusRN? Your #1 Digital Preceptor plusRN is your personalized, AI-enhanced clinical training and reference tool, built to accelerate your journey to becoming an experienced nurse by strengthening your Clinical Judgement and Core Competencies. Now featuring Nurse Gia, your on-demand AI Preceptor, ready to answer any question related to nursing or the medical profession—24/7. Whether you need quick clinical insights, guidance on patient care, or help with assignments, Nurse Gia is here to support you every step of the way. HOW DO YOU USE plusRN? plusRN is your clinical companion at the bedside and beyond. It aligns with the Clinical Judgement Measurement Model (CJMM)—the new nursing process—to guide you through real-world patient care scenarios. Assess clinical findings and recognize/analyze cues Prioritize hypotheses and generate nursing/medical solutions Fill out your care plan and TAKE ACTION And when you need help—just ask Nurse Gia. WHO IS plusRN DESIGNED FOR? Nursing Students New Graduates (BSN, ADN, LPN) Preceptors and Clinical Instructors Practicing Nurses needing just-in-time support WHY USE plusRN? We know how important it is to feel confident and competent while caring for patients. plusRN empowers you with the tools and knowledge you need to provide safe, effective care—from bedside interventions to SBAR communication. With Nurse Gia, you never have to feel alone during clinicals or your first year on the job. PLUS UP YOUR CLINICAL JUDGEMENT plusRN guides you through each step of the CJMM: Assess a Clinical Finding – Use a systems-based approach to identify and analyze cues. Diagnose & Manage Care – Prioritize hypotheses and generate care plan solutions. Nursing Interventions – Take Action! Access best-practice skills and nursing care tips. Discharge Planning – Evaluate outcomes and prepare for next-level care. SBAR – Communicate effectively with our structured script. Ask Nurse Gia – Get immediate answers to nursing questions and clinical uncertainties. GET 2-WEEKS FREE ACCESS Explore all features, including unlimited questions to Nurse Gia, access to every clinical guide, and full reference functionality. Don't feel paralyzed while developing your clinical skills—build confidence faster with plusRN. TESTIMONIALS: “Using plusRN at the bedside gives me confidence during my clinicals.” — Brenna McClung, Student Nurse, San Diego State University “I wish I had plusRN in nursing school! It would have been really helpful in my first job in Med/Surg as well.” — Kelsey Moe, BSN, RN, St. Luke’s Medical Center THE STORY BEHIND plusRN We’re nurses too—and we’ve been where you are. Many schools and employers don’t fully prepare you to practice independently. That feeling of being overwhelmed? We get it. That’s why we created plusRN. Our content was written and reviewed by nurses with over 100+ years of combined clinical experience. With best-practice guidance and now AI support through Nurse Gia, plusRN is your go-to app to strengthen your clinical judgement and sharpen your nursing core. HOW TO GET STARTED: Download plusRN Open any topic to start strengthening your clinical judgement Ask Nurse Gia anything—24/7 AI preceptor access Reference best-practice points and take confident action Approach every patient like an experienced nurse Stop second-guessing yourself. Start becoming the nurse you want to be—faster. Download plusRN today for FREE. Privacy Policy: https://www.nexgenclinicaleducation.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.nexgenclinicaleducation.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

RNotes®4 screens
plusRN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: plusRN at 82% against RNotes®'s 0%. plusRN also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. RNotes® sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and plusRN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

plusRN holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: plusRN has 279 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of RNotes®'s written reviews are positive against 82% of plusRN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RNotes® ships an update every 7 months, plusRN every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RNotes® versus plusRN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRNotes®plusRN
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (41 ratings)4.7 (279 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews82.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings41279 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB18 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperUnbound Medicine, Inc.Intuitive RN LLC

Customer experience

RNotes®

All ratings41 ratings
Positive85.4%
Neutral4.9%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

plusRN

All ratings279 ratings
Positive98.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

Bugs and requests

RNotes®

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

plusRN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to cancel subscription
  • Sign-up process has empty error messages
  • App glitches prevent sign-up

In-app purchases

3 purchases

RNotes®

One-time3
  • RNotes® 4th Edition$29.99
  • RNotes® 5th Edition$29.99
  • RNotes$29.99
3 purchases

plusRN

Subscriptions3
  • PlusRN Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • PlusRN Yearly14 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • PlusRN Yearly14 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is RNotes® free?
RNotes® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is plusRN free?
plusRN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RNotes® or plusRN?
plusRN is rated higher. RNotes® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while plusRN averages 4.7 from 279 ratings.
Do RNotes® or plusRN have ads?
Neither RNotes® nor plusRN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RNotes® or plusRN?
RNotes® ships an update every 7 months, and plusRN every 2 weeks. Most recently, RNotes® was updated on September 24, 2026 and plusRN on September 21, 2026.

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