# ClinicalKey — user reviews

> 102 indexed App Store user reviews of ClinicalKey by Elsevier Inc..

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clinicalkey/id1041998175/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clinicalkey/id1041998175.md

## What do users think of ClinicalKey?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 📚 High-quality, evidence-based clinical content
- 🎯 Intuitive interface and quick reference format
- 🔍 Similar functionality to website version
- 👍 Browse feature restoration appreciated by users

**Cons**

- 🔓 Constant forced logout issues
- 🔐 Institutional login authentication failures
- ⏳ App freezes and perpetual loading screens
- 🚫 Missing textbook access in app vs website
- 📵 Frequent crashes and force closures
- 🔄 Requires repeated login credentials
- ⚠️ Poor remote access support for institutional users
- 🐢 Laggy and unstable performance
- 🔌 App crashes when minimized or switching apps
- ❌ OpenAthens login not functioning properly

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App stuck on loading screen after initial login
- Forced logout when closing or minimizing app
- Institutional login not working despite web access
- App crashes during search queries
- OpenAthens authentication failures
- Network change warnings appearing incorrectly
- Search results returning unrelated content
- Textbook search not finding available books
- App won't load after recent updates
- Blank search results for valid queries
- Scrolling in table of contents sidebar not functioning
- Landscape orientation not supported
- App doesn't remember page position when reopened
- Restricted access to books after updates

**Most requested features**

- PDF download capability within the app
- Favorite/bookmark textbooks and articles
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Find-on-page text search function
- Automatic session persistence and page memory
- Text size and screen color customization
- Fingerprint/passcode login option
- Browse feature with category filtering
- Offline access to downloaded materials
- Feature parity with website version

## Newest reviews (15 of 102)

### 2/5 — Where are the PDFs?

*2024-11-02*

Apart from the apparent instability of the app, why is PDF download feature not available through the app? It’s very inconvenient and non practical and I strongly suggest it’s addition.

### 2/5 — Missing basic features

*2024-07-19*

Can’t favourite textbooks. Home Screen doesn’t even have a favourites shortcuts.

### 2/5 — Impractical app

*2023-04-29*

App is not working as a site! Useless

### 1/5 — Individual access

*2023-04-19*

I have paid $2k a year for individual access to clinical key (my institution does not offer access). The app automatically updated and now I am unable to use it, because I do not have institutional access and instead have been paying out of pocket for the resources. This needs to be rectified ASAP, or there needs to be a way to convert back to the old app.

**Developer response:** Dear Dr. Maa, 
 
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.
 
We understand that you are having difficulties accessing your individual account. We have a dedicated customer service team to assist with this issue. Please reach out to learn more about your access options at https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/.
 
Best regards,
ClinicalKey Product Team

### 2/5 — Finally updated, unfortunately worse

*2023-04-13*

The new UI consists of a search box, and nothing else. Bring back a browse feature at the very least. This app should have feature parity with the website.

**Developer response:** Dear mazzzgang, 

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the ClinicalKey app. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.

We understand your concern about the lack of a traditional browse feature. However, we are pleased to tell you about some additional capabilities we have created to help you get to the right books and journals quicker. To do this, start by entering the name of the book or journal in the search bar. As you type, suggestions will appear below the bar. When you see the name of the book or journal you want, tap it to go directly to the title page and explore the complete journal collection or table of contents.

We acknowledge that some ClinicalKey users may still prefer to explore via traditional directory browse functionality, and we will take this into account for future releases.

Thank you again for your feedback and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further suggestions or concerns. ClinicalKey Support Center: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/

Best regards,
The ClinicalKey team

### 3/5 — Missing browse menu

*2023-04-12*

Not sure what's different in new app other than missing the browse menu.

**Developer response:** Dear Esponja,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the ClinicalKey app. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.

We understand your concern about the lack of a traditional browse feature. However, we are pleased to tell you about some additional capabilities we have created to help you get to the right books and journals quicker. To do this, start by entering the name of the book or journal in the search bar. As you type, suggestions will appear below the bar. When you see the name of the book or journal you want, tap it to go directly to the title page and explore the complete journal collection or table of contents.

We acknowledge that some ClinicalKey users may still prefer to explore via traditional directory browse functionality, and we will take this into account for future releases.

Thank you again for your feedback and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further suggestions or concerns. ClinicalKey Support Center: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/

Best regards,
The ClinicalKey team

### 1/5 — Schlecht

*2023-01-20*

Einfach schlecht

### 1/5 — Useless

*2023-01-06*

I spend more time trying to log in than accessing content. I need to log in every time I open the app.

### 1/5 — log in issue

*2022-12-26*

Crashes everytime i log in.  please fix

### 1/5 — Great Content. Terrible App.

*2022-11-28*

I get auto-logged-out: 1) viewing a video, 2) minimizing the app, or 3) closing the app. What an unbearable, unusable experience. Elsevier may have high quality content, but if they can’t provide a good app, it’s useless and I won’t use their services.

### 1/5 — Can’t even login

*2022-09-22, version 1.10.8*

Won’t even let me login through OpenAthens and since it hasn’t been updated in 2 years it’s unlikely to ever work

### 1/5 — Horrible buggy app

*2022-08-17*

Forced log out every time I open the app. Never remembers the page I was at. No useful bookmark feature. Scrolling through table of consents side bar doesn’t work. So frustrating.

### 1/5 — OpenAthens SNAFU

*2022-08-09, version 1.10.8*

Perpetually being logged out of openathens

### 2/5 — App needs serious work

*2021-11-22*

This is rating app usability not the content UTD app >>>>CK app If CK wants to compete with big brother UTD - stop logging me out each time I minimize -have a save login feature easily accessible -landscape mode on iPhone with less screen overlap bug - favorite book saving option -options on screen color and text size please - cleaner experience that is less laggy -option for DL of material would no network is needed Please do this. For a grand a year for the IM packet we should have a more functional app since it is 2021. BEST resources in probably the worst app.

### 1/5 — STOP LOGGING ME OUT

*2021-10-28*

Publishers like Elselvier are exactly the ones driving people to pirate and not pay. My institution pays for my access and for some dumb anti-user reason, they decide to log you out every time you close the app to satisfy some idiotic internal “security” requirement. You will have a better user experience if you download the PDF - I’m not advocating for piracy but I shouldn’t have to pay to be treated like a criminal.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Worse with each iteration

*2024-09-29*

This app worsens every time. Great inaccessible content. Difficult to navigate. Difficult to find anything. Often blank results.

**Developer response:** Dear Esponja,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the ClinicalKey app. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.

We understand your concern about the lack of a traditional browse feature. However, we are pleased to tell you about some additional capabilities we have created to help you get to the right books and journals quicker. To do this, start by entering the name of the book or journal in the search bar. As you type, suggestions will appear below the bar. When you see the name of the book or journal you want, tap it to go directly to the title page and explore the complete journal collection or table of contents.

We acknowledge that some ClinicalKey users may still prefer to explore via traditional directory browse functionality, and we will take this into account for future releases.

Thank you again for your feedback and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further suggestions or concerns. ClinicalKey Support Center: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/

Best regards,
The ClinicalKey team

### 1/5 — Does not work for organization employee

*2024-06-18*

Does not work for organization employee

### 1/5 — Basaaaaaaad

*2024-02-03*

Awful to log in to and doesn’t work.

### 1/5 — Hate this app-do NOT work

*2023-10-28*

This app worked at first then it kicked me out. Then I couldn’t get back in. I deleted and reinstalled and it worked then it kicked me out again. I have deleted and reinstalled more times that I lost count and it doesn’t work. I don’t understand all the security crap. If I’m on the website and it gives the option at the top to open in app then why doesn’t it automatically sign me in? It’s books people, books. Customer service just keeps telling me there’s nothing wrong from their POV. I have tried on different phones and iPads. Waste of time!

### 1/5 — Impractical app

*2023-08-24*

App is not working as a site! Useless! The Register or sign in option is not working! Uninstalled….

### 1/5 — Р

*2023-08-24*

Реклама, спам и прочий хлам.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2023-05-22*

Can’t login

### 1/5 — Repeated login requests

*2023-05-16*

Very useful platform but needs repeated login credentials which is extremely frustrating. I wish they could learn a thing or two from how UpToDate operates their logins which never requests login’s again once verified at the outset.

### 1/5 — Nightmare for remote access from institution

*2023-04-27*

Even though it is set up and works on the web, apparently this only recognizes from institional ip address or institution email even though remote access already set up.  And constantly asks for login and finding institution.  Basically a waste of memory.  If by chance I do get it to work it only shows a search bar, not any kind of option to browse books etc that are on the subscription.

### 1/5 — Worst App Update

*2023-04-21*

I’ve been paying $500+ annually for an individual prescription for subspeciality content. This app updated automatically and now I can’t login on the app. Furthermore, I can no longer browse resources which I how I read newly published journal articles and guideline updates. I am canceling my subscription until this is fixed.

**Developer response:** Dear qwertimd, 
 
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.
 
We understand that you are having difficulties accessing your individual account. We have a dedicated customer service team to assist with this issue. Please reach out to learn more about your access options at https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/.
 
Best regards,
ClinicalKey Product Team

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Best

*2024-09-27, version 2.9.0*

Best medicine app ever

### 5/5 — Harika

*2023-10-31, version 2.3.2*

Harika

### 5/5 — Thank you for bring the browse featuring back.

*2023-09-17*

Browsing categories are the best.  Emailed the customer support a few months back that since the new all release the browsing capability was removed and now they added back. Thank you.

### 5/5 — Works great

*2018-08-09*

No issues, must have login and permission already set up by your university to see textbooks.

### 5/5 — Great!!

*2016-03-16*

This is a great app! It is quick and intuitive to use. Nice interface. Much better than accessing CK through Safari. 

A great on the go resource!

### 5/5 — Great App, Some Limitations

*2016-02-17*

Lots of current, evidence based information in intuitive format.  Would appreciate ability to rotate screen to landscape

**Developer response:** We now support landscape view. Please update ClinicalKey to the most recent version to see these changes. Thank you for the feedback.

### 5/5 — Fantastic App

*2016-01-25, version 1.0.0*

I used this app and it was great whoever made it did a good job
It was perfect for reference material
 5 stars

### 4/5 — Very similar to web experience

*2021-12-28*

I have not experienced the forced logout that others have stated in their reviews and I suspect it is because I am logging in with the personal account I created after I accessed the clinical key website through my school’s library as opposed to using my school’s login credentials.  My suggestion would be to try that route.  As for the app itself, it functions very similar to the website. I can access the same material (including textbooks) that I could on the website. The only things I wish it had that the website had is the ability to “find on page” and change the size of the text.  If I were king for a day (or, if someone from CK is reading this) I would enable web users and app users to favorite books—whole books, not just chapters or images from them.  Having to constantly search for the names of textbooks gets tedious.

### 4/5 — Excellent resource but tweaks needed

*2017-02-15*

Really good resource - saves me lugging several textbooks around! It would be good to be able to save some text books as "favourites" rather than search catalogue every time. Fingerprint/passcode login please!! 
Also an issue when selecting to search a topic within a textbook it still searches the entire catalogue.

### 3/5 — Finally updated, unfortunately worse

*2023-07-25*

The new UI consists of a search box, and nothing else. Bring back a browse feature at the very least. This app should have feature parity with the website.

Edit: adding a star because they’ve listened to feedback regarding the browse feature. Biggest issue at the moment is the app constantly logging users out and the email login system is a pain - I always opt for UTD/Dynamed because of this. After that, it still needs some serious UI/UX refinement but at this point my expectations are a bare minimum.

**Developer response:** Dear mazzzgang, 

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the ClinicalKey app. We appreciate your input and value your opinion.

We understand your concern about the lack of a traditional browse feature. However, we are pleased to tell you about some additional capabilities we have created to help you get to the right books and journals quicker. To do this, start by entering the name of the book or journal in the search bar. As you type, suggestions will appear below the bar. When you see the name of the book or journal you want, tap it to go directly to the title page and explore the complete journal collection or table of contents.

We acknowledge that some ClinicalKey users may still prefer to explore via traditional directory browse functionality, and we will take this into account for future releases.

Thank you again for your feedback and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further suggestions or concerns. ClinicalKey Support Center: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/clinicalkey/

Best regards,
The ClinicalKey team

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*