If you search for an NMC revalidation app, two names come up most often: FourteenFish and Revalidation Copilot. Both do the same job on paper. Both track CPD, store reflective accounts, and export a portfolio. But they work very differently in practice.
This is a head-to-head comparison. No marketing fluff. Here is exactly what each app does, what it costs, and which one suits which type of nurse.
At a Glance
| Feature | FourteenFish | Revalidation Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £15/year | Free / £12.99/yr Pro |
| Free tier | 14-day trial only | Yes — permanent free tier |
| Voice-to-reflection AI | ❌ Not available | ✅ Yes |
| AI reflective account drafting | ❌ Not available | ✅ Yes |
| Shift debrief logging | ❌ Not available | ✅ Yes |
| CPD tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Practice hour tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Feedback storage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Portfolio export | ✅ PDF export | ✅ Yes (Pro) |
| Mobile app | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ Yes |
| NHS ePortfolio compatible | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not designed for NHS ePortfolio |
Pricing
| FourteenFish | Revalidation Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £15/year (no permanent free tier) | Free tier available |
| What free tier includes | 14-day trial, then £15/yr | CPD tracking, practice hours, feedback, shift debriefs, 1 AI reflection |
| Pro price | £15/year (only option) | £12.99/year |
| Annual cost difference | Revalidation Copilot saves you £2.01/year — modest, but the free tier means you may not need Pro at all | |
💰 Pricing verdict
FourteenFish locks you into payment after 14 days. Revalidation Copilot has a permanent free tier that covers most tracking needs. If you want AI features or portfolio export, Pro costs less than FourteenFish with annual billing. Revalidation Copilot wins on pricing.
Reflective Accounts: The Key Difference
This is where the two apps diverge completely.
FourteenFish is a traditional digital portfolio. You write your reflective accounts directly into text fields. There is no AI, no voice input, no drafting assistance. The app stores what you write and organises it. That is useful, but it does not change how you work.
Revalidation Copilot offers voice-to-reflection AI. You record a 1-2 minute voice note after a shift or training session. The AI drafts a structured, NMC-compliant reflective account. You review, edit, and approve. Time per reflection: about 10 minutes instead of 20-30.
🎙️ Why this matters
Writing five reflective accounts from scratch takes 1.5-2.5 hours. With Revalidation Copilot's voice-to-reflection, it takes about 50 minutes total. Over a 3-year cycle, that saves you hours. FourteenFish does not offer this at any price.
Verdict: If reflective accounts are the part of revalidation you dread most, Revalidation Copilot is the better choice. If you prefer to write everything manually and just want a place to store it, FourteenFish does the job.
CPD Tracking
Both apps handle CPD tracking well. You log activities, tag types, and view running totals. The difference is in the details.
FourteenFish ties CPD entries to the NMC categories and lets you link entries to specific Code themes. It also integrates with NHS ePortfolio, which matters if you are using ePortfolio for other purposes (preceptorship, revalidation, appraisals).
Revalidation Copilot keeps CPD tracking simpler: log type, hours, date, note. The dashboard shows your running total against the 35-hour requirement and breaks down participatory vs non-participatory. No NHS ePortfolio integration, but most nurses do not use ePortfolio for revalidation alone.
Verdict: FourteenFish has an edge if you use NHS ePortfolio for other purposes. Revalidation Copilot is simpler and faster for revalidation-only tracking.
Portfolio Export
Both apps export your portfolio. FourteenFish produces a PDF. Revalidation Copilot (Pro) exports an organised portfolio for your confirmer. Neither app submits anything to the NMC directly. You keep your portfolio for your reflective discussion with your confirmer and for audit purposes. The NMC only needs to see your portfolio if you are selected for audit after submitting your renewal via MyNMC.
The export quality depends on what you have put in. Both will produce something your confirmer can review. Neither is meaningfully better than the other here.
Who Should Use FourteenFish?
- You already use NHS ePortfolio for preceptorship or appraisal
- You prefer writing reflective accounts the traditional way
- You do not want AI involvement in your reflections
- You are happy to pay £15/year from day one
Who Should Use Revalidation Copilot?
- You want to save time on reflective accounts
- Voice notes work better for you than typing
- You want a permanent free tier to try before paying
- You prefer a modern mobile-first experience
- You like the idea of AI drafting that you review and control
The Bottom Line
FourteenFish is a solid, established digital portfolio. It works. It does what it says. If you are happy with a traditional approach and especially if you use NHS ePortfolio for other purposes, it is a fine choice.
Revalidation Copilot is the better choice if you want to save time on revalidation. The AI voice-to-reflection feature is a genuine time-saver that no other app offers. The permanent free tier means you can try it properly before paying anything. And at £12.99/year Pro, it is cheaper than FourteenFish even when you do upgrade.
If you are currently using FourteenFish and wondering whether to switch, the deciding question is simple: do you spend more than an hour writing reflective accounts each cycle? If yes, Revalidation Copilot will pay for itself in time saved.
See the full best app guide for a broader comparison against other tools including RCNi Portfolio, CPD Launchpad, and Revalidator.uk.
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