Outside the US, Medisafe has required a Premium subscription since 1 January 2026: US$4.99 a month or US$39.99 a year. Cadence is free for unlimited medications on iPhone and Apple Watch, with an optional one-time Pro upgrade and no subscription.
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Full disclosure: we built Cadence, so weigh this accordingly. We have tried to be fair about where Medisafe is the better choice, because for some people it is. Medisafe facts below were checked on 23 October 2026 against Medisafe's help centre and its App Store listing.
At a glance
| Cadence | Medisafe | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost outside the US | Free, optional Pro $9.99 once | Premium required: US$4.99/month or US$39.99/year |
| Cost in the US | Free, optional Pro $9.99 once | Free download with in-app subscriptions |
| Medications on the free version | Unlimited | No free version outside the US |
| Account | None | Yes |
| Where your data lives | On your iPhone | Medisafe's servers |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Android |
| Caregiver features | A daily summary you send yourself | Medfriends, included with Premium |
The short answer
Choose Medisafe if you need Android, or you want a caregiver to get alerts automatically, and a subscription and account suit you.
Choose Cadence if you are on iPhone, want to pay once or not at all, and prefer your medication data to stay on your phone.
What changed in January 2026
Medisafe's help centre says that from 1 January 2026, users outside the US need a monthly or annual subscription to keep using the app. Premium costs US$4.99 a month or US$39.99 a year and includes unlimited medications, Medfriends, dependents, health trackers and extra reminder tones. Medisafe's article does not mention a free tier for users outside the US.
In the US, Medisafe is listed as a free download with in-app purchases. Medisafe does not say on those pages what the US free version includes.
What it costs over time
If you take medication for years, the pricing model matters more than the first month.
| Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medisafe Premium (annual, outside the US) | US$39.99 | US$119.97 | US$199.95 |
| Cadence Pro (optional) | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
Cadence's free version has no medication limit, no ads and no account. Pro adds the deeper features: Apple Health correlations, trends and the PDF report for appointments. For the wider picture, see our roundup of medication apps without a subscription.
Privacy: account and cloud vs on-device
Medisafe works with an account, and its help centre covers exporting your data and deleting your account. Your medication data is stored with Medisafe, which is what makes its sharing features possible.
Cadence has no account and no sign-up. Your data stays on your iPhone and never passes through our servers.
Where Medisafe is better
- Android. Medisafe runs on iPhone and Android. Cadence is iPhone and Apple Watch only.
- Automatic caregiver alerts. Medisafe's Medfriends can keep a family member informed without you doing anything. With Cadence you send a daily summary yourself: each medication and dose, its time and whether it was taken, missed or still to come. If you need hands-off monitoring, Medisafe has the edge. See our guide on tracking medications for elderly parents.
- Maturity. Medisafe has been around since 2012 and has a very large user base.
Where Cadence is better
- Price model. Free for unlimited medications, and $9.99 once for Pro instead of a yearly fee.
- No account. Nothing to sign up for and nothing stored on our servers.
- Apple Watch and Lock Screen. Take, skip or snooze from the Lock Screen or your wrist without opening the app.
- Dose windows. A dose taken a little late still counts as on time, within a window you set. Read why dose windows match how medication works.
- Apple Health correlations (Pro). See how your doses line up with sleep, resting heart rate, blood pressure and more from Apple Health.
The bottom line
Medisafe is a capable, mature app, and if you need Android or automatic caregiver alerts it is the right pick. If you are on iPhone outside the US and don't want another subscription, Cadence covers reminders, logging, refills and history for free, and its extras cost $9.99 once.
For more options, see our best medication tracker apps for iPhone or our list of Medisafe alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medisafe still free in 2026?
Outside the US, no. Medisafe's help centre says a monthly or annual subscription has been required since 1 January 2026 (US$4.99 a month or US$39.99 a year). In the US it is a free download with in-app subscriptions. Cadence is free for unlimited medications everywhere, with no account.
How much does Cadence cost compared to Medisafe?
Cadence is free for unlimited medications, with an optional one-time Cadence Pro upgrade at $9.99. Medisafe Premium is US$39.99 a year, so over five years the annual plan adds up to about US$200.
Can I move from Medisafe to Cadence?
Yes. Add your medications in Cadence (you can scan a prescription label to fill in the name and dose), set your reminder times and you are done. Medisafe's help centre explains how to export your Medisafe data if you want to keep a copy.
Does Cadence work on Android?
No. Cadence is for iPhone and Apple Watch only. If you need Android, Medisafe is the better fit.
Does Cadence offer caregiver sharing like Medisafe?
Both do, in different ways. Medisafe's Medfriends keep a caregiver informed automatically. Cadence lets you send a caregiver a daily summary yourself (each medication and dose, its time and whether it was taken, missed or still to come). For hands-off monitoring Medisafe has the edge; for a simple update you control, Cadence covers it.
Cadence is a free medication reminder app for iPhone and Apple Watch with unlimited medications and no account required. Cadence Pro is $9.99 as a one-time purchase.
