Pill Buddy is free to download, with an optional supporter purchase at US$4.99 a month or US$35.90 a year. Cadence is free for unlimited medications, and Pro is a one-time US$9.99. Pick Pill Buddy for its mascot and Cadence for no recurring cost and an Apple Watch app.
Download Cadence free on the App Store
We built Cadence, so weigh this accordingly. Pill Buddy has 4.9 stars from about 2,000 US ratings, and its mascot is a lot of fun.
At a glance
| Cadence | Pill Buddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, optional Pro US$9.99 once | Free, supporter US$4.99 a month or US$35.90 a year |
| Devices | iPhone (iOS 17 or later), Apple Watch | iPhone (iOS 18.1 or later) |
| Reminder style | Time-sensitive reminder with follow-ups | Push notifications, phone calls and widgets |
| Motivation | Rhythm, no streak resets | Mascot, streaks and stars |
| Other tracking | Symptoms and daily reflections | Blood pressure and weight |
| Ads | None | None |
| Insights and PDF report | Yes, with Pro | Not stated |
Checked 1 November 2026 against Pill Buddy's US App Store page. What the supporter purchase unlocks is not stated there. Prices are in US dollars and can differ by country.
Where Pill Buddy is the better choice
- A mascot that reacts. It smiles when you take a dose and frowns, then gets more annoying, when you miss one.
- Phone call reminders. A call can be harder to ignore than a notification.
- Streaks and rewards. If stars and accessories keep you going, this is built for you.
Where Cadence is the better choice
- No recurring cost. Pro is one payment, and the free version already has no cap on medications.
- Apple Watch app. Take or skip a dose from your wrist. The App Store lists Pill Buddy as iPhone only.
- Older iPhones. Cadence runs on iOS 17. Pill Buddy needs iOS 18.1.
- Rhythm, not streaks. One missed day doesn't wipe your progress.
- Insights and a PDF report (Pro). See your patterns, connect them with Apple Health metrics and take a report to an appointment.
Which should you choose?
Choose Pill Buddy if a playful mascot or a phone call is what gets you to take notice.
Choose Cadence if you want no recurring cost, an Apple Watch app or more detail for appointments.
Not sure? See every comparison side by side.
