Migraine Buddy is the default name in headache tracking, and it earns it — a community of millions, weather forecasting, sleep recording, and diary exports built with headache specialists. But a lot of people quietly stop using it for the same reason: the moment an attack starts is the worst possible moment to complete a detailed form. If that's you, there's a different kind of option.
This is an honest comparison of Migraine Buddy and Migraine, the one-tap headache tracker and migraine diary we make. We'll be fair about what Migraine Buddy does well, and clear about where a lighter approach fits better.
The core difference: research data vs a diary you can use mid-attack
Both apps record migraine attacks. The difference is when they expect you to do the recording.
- Migraine Buddy is built as a research-grade self-management tool. Its App Store listing centres on customisable attack recording, questionnaires, a 3.5-million-user community, and reports "crafted by top specialists" for your neurologist. The richer your entry, the more the app can give back.
- Migraine is built around the attack itself. One tap opens an active episode with the start time, and you can put the phone face-down. Pain level, aura and notes get added later — when you're able to.
Neither approach is wrong. They just optimise for different moments: one for the follow-up appointment, one for 3 a.m. in a dark room.
Migraine vs Migraine Buddy at a glance
| Migraine Buddy | Migraine | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Detailed self-management and clinical reporting | Logging an attack while it's happening |
| How you log | Customisable attack recording across many fields | One tap starts the episode — details later |
| App Store category | Medical | Health & Fitness |
| Account | Account-based, with a 3.5M-user community | None required, no community feed |
| Doctor handoff | Diary and MIR exports built for specialists | Plain-language insights you can show on screen |
| Extras | Weather forecast, sleep recording, questionnaires, news | Calendar, triggers, medication log, insights |
| Premium | MBplus subscription for advanced features | Free, with no ads and no data collection |
| Privacy | Cloud account and research participation | On-device, optional Apple-encrypted iCloud sync |
Where Migraine Buddy still wins
Credit where it's due. If you're working closely with a neurologist or headache specialist, Migraine Buddy is hard to beat. Its diary and MIR exports are designed for exactly that conversation, the seven-day pressure forecast is genuinely useful if your attacks are weather-linked, and automatic sleep recording surfaces a link that's easy to miss on your own. Add a community of millions of people who understand what you're going through, and there's real value there that a small, quiet app doesn't try to replicate. If you want the most complete data set possible on your condition, download Migraine Buddy.
Where Migraine fits better
Choose a one-tap headache diary like Migraine if:
- You've abandoned tracking before because logging during an attack was impossible.
- You want the app to open, start the clock, and then leave you alone.
- You want a private, on-device record of a medical condition — no account, no community, no questionnaires.
- You want to see a month of attacks, auras and medication as a visual calendar rather than a wall of text.
- You're watching for medication overuse headache and want the meds log to make that pattern obvious.
- You prefer local-first software for anything this personal.
- You need to look at a screen with a pounding head — dark mode, Dynamic Type and a native iOS interface aren't cosmetic here.
"I'd start a migraine log every few months and quit within a week, because the app wanted twenty answers at the exact moment I couldn't give one. Tapping once and coming back the next morning is the first version of this I've kept up."
The bottom line
Migraine Buddy and Migraine answer two different questions. Migraine Buddy answers "what does the full clinical picture of my condition look like?" Migraine answers "can I actually record this attack, right now, with my eyes half closed?" If your neurologist wants structured exports and you have the energy to feed a detailed diary, use Migraine Buddy. If the reason you have no migraine history is that every tracker asked too much at the worst moment, the lighter one is the one you'll still be using in six months.
Both apps are self-management tools. Neither replaces medical advice — talk to a healthcare provider about diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Migraine Buddy alternative without long questionnaires?
Yes. Migraine is a headache tracker built around one-tap logging — you tap once to open an active attack with its start time, then put the phone down. Pain level, aura, triggers and medication can be filled in later, when you are able to, instead of during the attack.
Does Migraine require an account?
No. Migraine needs no account and no sign-up. Your attack records, trigger data and medication history stay on your device, with optional iCloud sync between your own devices that is encrypted by Apple. Migraine Buddy is built around an account and a community of millions of users.
Can I show Migraine's data to my neurologist?
Yes. The Insights screen summarises attack frequency, average pain level, aura percentage, most common triggers and medication response in plain language, so you can hand your phone to your doctor without exporting a PDF first. Migraine Buddy offers more formal exports, including reports designed for headache specialists.
Is Migraine free?
Migraine is free to download on the App Store, with no ads and no data collection. It supports English, Japanese and Traditional Chinese, and includes the calendar, trigger tracking, medication log and insights.
A migraine diary that respects you
One tap starts the attack. Everything else can wait until your head clears.
Download Migraine on the App Store →More on how we build: Why Privacy-First Design Matters. Questions? Email us.