# MDCalc Medical Calculator vs MD Reference

The clearest difference is rating: MDCalc Medical Calculator at 4.9 against MD Reference's 3.0. MDCalc Medical Calculator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). MD Reference's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MD Reference sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MDCalc Medical Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

MDCalc Medical Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MDCalc Medical Calculator has 52K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of MDCalc Medical Calculator's written reviews are positive against 50% of MD Reference's.

MDCalc Medical Calculator ships an update every 3 weeks, MD Reference every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MDCalc Medical Calculator | MD Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (52K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdcalc-medical-calculator/id1001640662/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **52K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **71.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#129** | — |
| Size | 68 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MD Aware, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1001640661) | [Uptodate In Medicine MMC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1428873400) |

## What reviewers say

### MDCalc Medical Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdcalc-medical-calculator/id1001640662)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

This app provides over 900 evidence-based medical calculators, risk scores, and clinical tools for healthcare professionals. It offers offline functionality, expert insights, and CME tracking to support patient care at the bedside. Tools are developed and validated by board-certified physicians.

**Highlights:** 900+ evidence-based calculators, Offline functionality, Expert insights and commentary, CME tracking, Smart search and organization, Point-of-care workflow support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Excellent resource
- 🔍 Helpful and accurate
- 🔥 Essential for clinical practice
- 🤖 Useful for medical students and residents
- 💻 Easy to use interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs after updates
- 🔒 Mandatory login/registration issues
- 📱 Poor user experience on mobile devices
- 🔋 Battery drain and overheating
- 🔍 Lack of certain measurement options (e.g. feet/inches)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch after recent updates
- Unable to access app after mandatory login requirement
- Keyboard issues and difficulty navigating form fields

**Requested features**

- Add support for gestures and keyboard shortcuts
- Allow users to set Favorites as the default view
- Improve compatibility with iPad and Mac devices
- Expand registration options for international users


### MD Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680)

This medical reference app aims to improve healthcare quality by providing medical professionals with updated knowledge and modern technologies. It helps practitioners stay informed about advancements and apply them in their practice. The service operates on a subscription basis with various plans available.

**Highlights:** Enhances medical knowledge, Keeps users updated on new technologies, Facilitates practical application of knowledge, Subscription-based access, Personalized user accounts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 3 months subscription | $8.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 months subscription | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 months subscription | $23.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MDCalc Medical Calculator free?

MDCalc Medical Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MD Reference free?

MD Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MDCalc Medical Calculator or MD Reference?

MDCalc Medical Calculator is rated higher. MDCalc Medical Calculator averages 4.9 out of 5 from 52K ratings, while MD Reference averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do MDCalc Medical Calculator or MD Reference have ads?

MD Reference shows ads; MDCalc Medical Calculator does not.

### Which is updated more often, MDCalc Medical Calculator or MD Reference?

MDCalc Medical Calculator ships an update every 3 weeks, and MD Reference every 4 months. Most recently, MDCalc Medical Calculator was updated on October 27, 2026 and MD Reference on October 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*