Comparison

ClinicalKey vs Thinksulin

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ClinicalKey

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
Read full description

INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. Access the latest advances in clinical knowledge anytime, anywhere with ClinicalKey®- the essential resource for medical professionals. ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to provide clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter most. With ClinicalKey, you can: • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research Please note: To access our extensive content library, ensure you have a subscription to ClinicalKey from your organization. To get started: 1. Download the free ClinicalKey app for iOS on your iPad® or iPhone®. 2. Follow the prompts to connect to your organization’s account.The app will ask questions to get you to the right content. 3. Choose the method of access that is right for you: 4. Select Access via Network if you need a quick answer and your device is connected to your organization's network. 5. Select Access via Institution for other ways to connect. 6. Once you have gained access, create or sign- in to your Elsevier ClinicalKey user account to save favorites and earn CME/MOC/CE/MOC/CE. ClinicalKey® Because you want to find a better way to help your patients ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to give clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter. With the ClinicalKey, clinicians will be able to: • Enhance patient care with trusted resources and deep insights across 30+ specialties • Combine efficiency and confidence in your practice with access to quick answers and information that is continuously updated • Excel in your field by building foundational knowledge and keeping up with the latest trends through full-text reference books and journals, while earning free CME/MOC/CE credit • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research ClinicalKey App for iOS Features: • Trusted Comprehensive content covering more than 30 medical and surgical specialties • Easy-to-scan, clinically focused medical topic synopses • Intuitive search with auto-suggest/ • Easy search with auto-completion • Direct navigation to your favorite books and journals • Mobile-optimized medical calculators • Access to full-text books, full-text journals, guidelines, multimedia and more • Access via Institutional IP; individuals will not be able to earn CME/MOC/CE, save, or share content when using IP authentication. Please register for remote access via your institutional web version of ClinicalKey. ClinicalKey Registrants (non-IP) customers will enjoy: • Opportunity to earn CME and fulfill MOC requirements with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) • Ability to favorite and save content • Option to print and email topics, videos or graphics • Earn and track free CME/MOC/CE credit Ability to favorite and save content Print and email topics, videos or graphics to patients and colleagues iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries.

About

Thinksulin

Features
Read full description

Thinksulin was developed by ACI in consultation with the NSW Diabetes Taskforce and its In-hospital Management of Diabetes Mellitus Working Group and informed by: an evidence check of best practice care components of inpatient insulin management brokered by the Sax Institute for the Agency for Clinical Innovation (2024); clinician and consumer consultations; and clinical expertise. Thinksulin aims to enhance the capacity and/or capability of junior medical officers and nursing staff responsible for prescribing and administering of insulin to patients in hospital with diabetes, although it can be used by any clinician responsible for the care of people in hospital with diabetes. Thinksulin is a point of care app that provides information and decision support on blood glucose level targets, hypoglycaemia management, blood glucose monitoring, basal-bolus calculations, and charting and reviewing doses.

Screenshots

ClinicalKey4 screens
Thinksulin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ClinicalKey at every 5 weeks against Thinksulin's every 9 months. ClinicalKey also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, Thinksulin every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
ClinicalKey versus Thinksulin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClinicalKeyThinksulin
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews8.8% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB7 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperElsevier Inc.Agency for Clinical Innovation

Bugs and requests

ClinicalKey

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • 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

Requested features

10 requests
  • 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
Show 5 more
  • 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

Thinksulin

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ClinicalKey

No in-app purchases

None

Thinksulin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ClinicalKey free?
ClinicalKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Thinksulin free?
Thinksulin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ClinicalKey or Thinksulin have ads?
Neither ClinicalKey nor Thinksulin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ClinicalKey or Thinksulin?
ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, and Thinksulin every 9 months. Most recently, ClinicalKey was updated on October 16, 2026 and Thinksulin on October 10, 2026.

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