# CVS Specialty vs CarelonRx

The clearest difference is rating: CVS Specialty at 4.4 against CarelonRx's 3.3. CVS Specialty also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 31) and review sentiment (35% vs 20%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CVS Specialty holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CVS Specialty has 1.9K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of CVS Specialty's written reviews are positive against 20% of CarelonRx's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CVS Specialty | CarelonRx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cvs-specialty/id944362852/reviews)** | [3.3 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carelonrx/id1491354975/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | **35.2% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#207** | — |
| Size | 74 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CVS Pharmacy](https://appshunter.io/developer/395545558) | [CarelonRx, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491354974) |

## What reviewers say

### CVS Specialty

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cvs-specialty/id944362852)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

Manage your specialty prescriptions conveniently from your mobile device. Order refills, track your orders, make payments, and securely message your care team. Pick up at a CVS Pharmacy or have them delivered.

**Highlights:** Order prescription refills, Track order status, Make payments, Secure messaging with CareTeam, Choose pickup or delivery

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient refill process
- 🚀 Helpful reminders
- 🚀 Fast delivery
- 👍 Knowledgeable customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 Unreliable order tracking
- 🐛 Inability to update account information
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent loading issues
- Inability to refill prescriptions
- Disappearing order buttons
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS and Android

**Requested features**

- Ability to add supplementary items to orders
- Improved in-app order management
- Seamless integration with regular CVS app
- Persistent login and order history
- Enhanced notification system


### CarelonRx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carelonrx/id1491354975)

Manage your pharmacy benefits easily. Look up prescription prices, find pharmacies, and refill medications. Track shipments and access your digital ID card all in one place.

**Highlights:** Prescription price lookup, Pharmacy network finder, Medication management, Prescription refills, Shipment tracking, Digital ID card access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CVS Specialty free?

CVS Specialty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CarelonRx free?

CarelonRx is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CVS Specialty or CarelonRx?

CVS Specialty is rated higher. CVS Specialty averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while CarelonRx averages 3.3 from 31 ratings.

### Do CVS Specialty or CarelonRx have ads?

Neither CVS Specialty nor CarelonRx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CVS Specialty or CarelonRx?

CVS Specialty ships an update monthly, and CarelonRx monthly. Most recently, CVS Specialty was updated on October 24, 2026 and CarelonRx on October 25, 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.*