myMerlin™

About myMerlin™

I downloaded myMerlin because the simple pill reminder app I was using got bought out and filled with ads. As a student on a tight budget, I needed something free and reliable to help me remember my allergy meds and log the tension headaches I get during exam weeks. I saw it was by Abbott, which made me think it was legit, but I honestly expected some clunky corporate software. I gave it a shot because my old app was basically useless now and I was tired of setting phone alarms with weird labels like “TAKE THE PILL.”

Core Features

The main things I use are the medication reminders and the symptom tracker. Setting up a med is straightforward—you type the name, pick a time, and that’s it. The reminder notification is persistent and doesn’t just flash and disappear, which is good because I’m usually buried in a textbook. The symptom log is basic but gets the job done. I can quickly tap to add a headache, rate its intensity, and add a short note like “after 3-hour study session.” There’s a dashboard with charts, but I mostly ignore it. The app also has stuff for tracking blood pressure and blood glucose, which I don’t need, so those parts just sit there.

Real-World Use

It worked better than I thought it would. Last Thursday, I was in the library trying to finish a paper, and my phone buzzed with the myMerlin reminder. I’d totally forgotten my meds that morning. That one buzz probably saved me from a sneezing fit later. I also started logging my headaches every time I felt one coming on. After a few days, I could see a pattern—they were mostly hitting in the late afternoon. It’s not a miracle cure, but having that record made me realize I needed to take more screen breaks. The app isn’t pretty. The design feels old, like something from five years ago, and some buttons are weirdly small on my OnePlus 11 screen.

Pricing & Value

It’s completely free. No ads, no subscriptions, no “pro” version begging for money. For a student, that’s the biggest win. You’re getting a functional health tool without any sneaky costs. The trade-off, I guess, is that you’re giving your health data to Abbott. But since they’re a real medical company and not some random developer, it feels a bit less sketchy than the average free app. For my simple needs—remembering one daily pill and tracking a symptom—it provides more than enough value for the price of zero dollars.

Updates & Support

I’ve only had the app for three days, so I haven’t needed to contact support. Looking at the reviews on the Play Store, it seems like people have mixed experiences—some say support is slow but helpful, others say they never got a reply. The app itself hasn’t crashed on me. The last update was about a month ago, which the description said was for “performance improvements.” It doesn’t feel like an app that’s getting flashy new features every week, and that’s okay with me. I just need it to work consistently.

Data & Privacy

The privacy policy is long and full of legal jargon, which I skimmed. The gist is they collect the data you input to provide the service and may use it in an anonymized way for research. Since I’m only logging fairly minor stuff, I’m not too worried. It’s more concerning if you’re tracking really sensitive health conditions. I made sure to download it from the official Google Play Store, not a third-party site. For my purposes, the benefit of having my info in one place outweighs the vague unease about where that data goes.