# ClinicalKey vs idomed

The clearest difference is review sentiment: idomed at 60% against ClinicalKey's 9%. idomed also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). ClinicalKey's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. idomed sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ClinicalKey asks for nothing beyond the download.

ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, idomed fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ClinicalKey | idomed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idomed/id1322302839/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 8.8% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 68 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +12 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/367031326) | [Idomed Medical](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650614741) |

## What reviewers say

### ClinicalKey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clinicalkey/id1041998175)

This app provides medical professionals with instant access to a vast library of clinical knowledge, including synoptic content and in-depth reference materials. It helps users stay updated on medical advancements, confirm diagnoses, and advance their research skills, all while offering CME/MOC/CE credits.

**Highlights:** Access to 30+ medical specialties, Synoptic content for quick answers, Full-text reference books and journals, Mobile-optimized medical calculators, Earn CME/MOC/CE credits, Intuitive search functionality

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔓 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

**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

**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


### idomed

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idomed/id1322302839)

This secure communication app connects healthcare professionals and organizations to improve patient care, especially for vulnerable individuals. It offers secure messaging, video conferencing for teleconsultations, and a territorial directory of healthcare providers.

**Highlights:** Secure instant messaging, Group and patient-specific discussions, Secure video conferencing, Teleconsultations with connected devices, Territorial healthcare provider directory, HIPAA compliant

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Idomed Basic | $4.99 | per month |
| idomed Pro+ | $27.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ClinicalKey free?

ClinicalKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is idomed free?

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

### Do ClinicalKey or idomed have ads?

Neither ClinicalKey nor idomed shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ClinicalKey or idomed?

ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, and idomed fortnightly. Most recently, ClinicalKey was updated on November 4, 2026 and idomed on November 8, 2026.

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