Tips for choosing the right blood pressure app
Tips
But how do you find the right blood pressure app for you? Here are some criteria to look out for:
- Quality and security: The app should come from a reputable source and offer strong data protection. Your readings should not be passed on to third parties without being asked or used for advertising purposes. The app should also be regularly updated and improved.
BloodPressureDB has stood for quality and security since 2011. It is one of only a few apps that even carries the quality seal of the German Hypertension League. - Compatibility and ease of use: The app should be compatible with your own smartphone or tablet and offer simple, intuitive operation. It should also allow readings to be synced with an external blood pressure monitor or entered manually. BloodPressureDB is available for Android devices, Apple (iOS) devices, and as a web app that works in your browser. This ensures maximum compatibility. In addition to manual entry, many Bluetooth blood pressure devices are supported.
- Features and content: A blood pressure app should do more than just display readings. The visual representation of blood pressure trends, a reminder function for taking measurements, and an export function for the data should also be included. The app should provide information and tips on blood pressure, hypertension, and prevention. BloodPressureDB offers not only that, but much more: for example, medication tracking as well as storage information and medication reminder alerts.
- Ratings and experiences: Do other users rate and recommend the app positively? You should read the comments and reviews to get a sense of the apps quality and reliability. BloodPressureDB has been downloaded millions of times and therefore has a lot of customer reviews. In addition, professional groups such as pharmacists and doctors also recommend the BloodPressureDB app whenever possible.
- No dubious promises: Apps that claim to measure blood pressure are not credible. Technically, its still necessary to measure with an arm cuff, just like with a conventional blood pressure monitor. Anyone promising to determine blood pressure without a cuff should be viewed with extreme caution.
Does an app need approval as a medical device?
Unfortunately, the approval requirements for medical devices have changed, so this question can no longer be answered simply with a yes. BloodPressureDB was approved as a medical device under Class I according to the MDD. With the introduction of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), the classification of software changed as well. There is a provision there that is notorious in professional circles: Rule 11:
Software intended to provide information that is used to support decisions for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is classified as Class IIa [or higher].
This means that an app that is not a medical device may share data with the doctor. But an app classified as a Class I medical device under the MDR is not allowed to do that. Its absurd, but its the law. We also discussed this with our regulatory authority. They are aware of the problem, but they feel forced to proceed this way until the law is changed again. By the end of 2024, it slowly became clear that the regulation will likely be interpreted more strictly.
The old medical device approval did not include this restriction. In the future, BloodPressureDB will therefore be offered without medical device approval, with the purpose of recording data. Transferring data from the app directly to the treating doctor is not subject to any approval requirement. Thats why we can offer this in the future as well.
So, according to current requirements, an app does not necessarily have to be a medical device. However, if it wants to be one, it must meet at least the requirements of Class IIa. A Class I app under the MDR is also possiblebut then the data may not be used for therapy.
Why a DiGA isnt a good blood pressure app:
A DiGA is not just a digital blood pressure diaryit is supposed to have an immediate therapeutic effect on the patient and also prove this in studies. Thats exactly why it doesnt really fit what many affected people actually need: a documentation of their blood pressure readings that is available long-term, easy to use, and reliablefor themselves and for the doctors appointment. If you want to record, compare, and understand your readings over the long term, a DiGA is in the wrong place: once the prescription period ends, the purpose of storing the data may also no longer apply. And without a new prescription in time, health insurance activation, and an activation code, data that was painstakingly collected can be blocked or deleted. On top of that, there are high regulatory requirements, expensive studies, limited functions, and complicated safety requirements such as frequent re-registration or two-factor authentication. There may also be issues with push notifications, high costs, and overall less everyday practicality. A good blood pressure app should make everyday life easier and keep the data usable long-term. A DiGA, by contrast, is a regulated therapy product for a limited time. More information in our article "Is BloodPressureDB a DiGA".
Conclusion
A blood pressure app can be a meaningful supplement to blood pressure monitoring, but it does not replace a doctors visit or medical care. Our recommendation is the BloodPressureDB app.
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 05/2026).
Author Horst Klier has been dealing intensively with high blood pressure since 2002 – initially from personal experience and since 2009 as a developer of BloodPressureDB – and, thanks to his app and specialist platform used millions of times and numerous publications, he is now regarded as an established blood pressure expert. As the author of several health guides and professional articles, he explains complex topics clearly and in a practical way.
Author Horst Klier has been dealing intensively with high blood pressure since 2002 – initially from personal experience and since 2009 as a developer of BloodPressureDB – and, thanks to his app and specialist platform used millions of times and numerous publications, he is now regarded as an established blood pressure expert. As the author of several health guides and professional articles, he explains complex topics clearly and in a practical way.
