A diary for each condition
- Sam
- Eight conditions
- Diary apps
- Varies, often generic
- Reminder apps
- Usually not
- Watch and ring apps
- Usually not
Comparisons
Sam compared: which app fits you?
Sam is a diary for one condition, with a doctor report as PDF, Apple Health values and a program for each of eight conditions. It is not the right tool for every job. Pick by what you want to do. Each page says plainly when another app is the better fit.
Sam
Other apps
How is Sam different from the app of my watch or ring?
The makers' apps show how ready you are today. Sam records over months how you are doing with a condition. If you mainly train, the maker's app is the better pick. Sam is an iPhone app that reads Apple Health, so it can show what a Garmin, Whoop, Oura or Apple Watch saves there.
Is another health app a better fit than Sam?
If you want to note many different things freely, a diary app you set up yourself is often more flexible. If the reminder is the main thing, a reminder app serves you better. Sam fits when you have one of the eight conditions and want a ready-made summary for your doctor.
Want to share your data with family? See how Care Circle works
How do the kinds of apps compare at a glance?
These are typical differences by kind of app. Single apps vary, so check the one you have in mind.
| Sam | Diary apps | Reminder apps | Watch and ring apps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A diary for each condition | Eight conditions | Varies, often generic | Usually not | Usually not |
| A report for your doctor | PDF for each program | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Apple Health values next to your entries | Yes, from any source in Apple Health | Varies | Varies | Their own device data |
| Medication reminders | Six programs, one medication each | Varies | Their main job | Varies |
| Track your own items freely | Fixed items per program | Often | Usually not | Usually not |
| Works without a wearable | Diary and questionnaires | Usually | Usually | Needs their device |
A report for your doctor
- Sam
- PDF for each program
- Diary apps
- Varies
- Reminder apps
- Varies
- Watch and ring apps
- Varies
Apple Health values next to your entries
- Sam
- Yes, from any source in Apple Health
- Diary apps
- Varies
- Reminder apps
- Varies
- Watch and ring apps
- Their own device data
Medication reminders
- Sam
- Six programs, one medication each
- Diary apps
- Varies
- Reminder apps
- Their main job
- Watch and ring apps
- Varies
Track your own items freely
- Sam
- Fixed items per program
- Diary apps
- Often
- Reminder apps
- Usually not
- Watch and ring apps
- Usually not
Works without a wearable
- Sam
- Diary and questionnaires
- Diary apps
- Usually
- Reminder apps
- Usually
- Watch and ring apps
- Needs their device
A question mark means: it varies from app to app. We list only what we could verify for Sam.
Questions about choosing the right app
Which app suits me if I have a chronic condition?+
It depends on what you want to record. Sam is built for a diary with a doctor report for migraine, high blood pressure, asthma, hay fever, epilepsy, panic disorder, reflux or gout, see the programs. For reminders for several medications a dedicated reminder app fits better, and for a freely configurable diary, a diary app you set up yourself.
Can I use Sam and another app at the same time?+
Yes. Many people use a reminder app for their medication and Sam for the diary and the doctor report. The apps work separately and do not exchange data automatically.
Does Sam need an Apple Watch?+
No. Sam is an iPhone app that reads Apple Health. An Apple Watch works, and so do Oura, Garmin and Whoop when their app saves data to Apple Health. The diary, questionnaires, documents and doctor report work without a wearable.
Does Sam replace the electronic patient record?+
No. The electronic patient record is the place for findings and letters that practices and hospitals file there. Sam records what you note yourself in daily life and what your wearable saves to Apple Health, and turns it into a doctor report as a PDF.
Can I bring my data from another app into Sam?+
No, Sam does not import from other diary or reminder apps. Many apps offer a PDF export you can show your doctor, but Sam does not read it.
What should I bring to a doctor's appointment, whichever app I use?+
A short list of your medications with name and strength as on the packaging, your three most important questions and an overview of the last weeks or months. In Sam that is the doctor report as a PDF for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months or the whole record.
How do I share my health data with family or my doctor?+
In Germany, the electronic patient record from your health insurer is the place for findings and letters from your practice; Sam does not replace it. Apple Health sharing passes on data from Apple Health. In the Care Circle you share chosen data read-only with people who use Sam themselves; you choose what and you can end the share at any time. For your doctor, you bring the doctor report as a PDF.
Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. Sam does not diagnose. These comparisons describe differences in what the apps record and output, not which treatment suits you.
Take your record to the appointment
If one of the eight conditions is yours, Sam records your entries and turns them into a doctor report as a PDF.