Comparison

ClinicalKey vs AnSo

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

AnSo

This app helps anesthesiologists quickly identify sonoanatomy for various procedures. It offers detailed images, landmark sketches, and innervation data for nerve blocks, along with tips from experienced clinicians. It covers regional anesthesia and other perioperative ultrasound uses.

Highlights
  • Sonoanatomy identification
  • Landmark sketches
  • Nerve block innervation
  • Ergonomic positioning guides
  • Perioperative ultrasound uses
  • Clinical tips and notes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

AnSo is a convenient resource designed to help anaesthetists identify common sonoanatomy, in a time efficient manner, within the busy operating theatre. It has been created by practicing anaesthetists with an interest in teaching ultrasound and regional anaesthesia. Please note that a subscription is required to access all content for this app. You can purchase a monthly or yearly subscription after signing in. AnSo: - provides multiple examples of the sonoanatomy as every individual is different, - provides landmark sketches useful for developing pattern recognition of landmark structures, and for trainees to draw in exams, - displays the cutaneous, motor, osseous and visceral innervation of the numerous nerve blocks and fascial plane blocks now available, facilitating appropriate block choice and knowledge of expected results, - allows combining and comparing block innervation, - allows images to be flipped to display both L and R sided orientation, - demonstrates functional ergonomics with patient, ultrasound screen and proceduralist positioning essential for efficient practical performance, - provides block notes with sonoanatomy tips and practical tips from experienced clinicians which can be invaluable to the learner. AnSo is not only for regional anaesthesia but includes many other perioperative uses of ultrasound relevant to the anaesthetist, such as: - airway - gastric antrum - vascular access - spine - transthoracic echo - lung signs AnSo contains: - over 250 ultrasound images with over 1500 sonoanatomy colour overlays, - innervation images, - ergonomic images, - landmarks pattern sketches, - loops when required for dynamic sonoanatomy, - notes with tips from experienced clinicians. AnSo helps identify not only the target structures but all the surrounding sonoanatomy. This more comprehensive understanding of the sonoanatomy helps detect anatomical variability, improves the safety and efficacy of procedures, and facilitates learning and teaching. AnSo has been designed in a format that can be easily updated and distributed to users so the information can be kept as current as possible in this rapidly expanding field. AnSo does not require an internet connection to run. Once downloaded all data is stored on your device so it will work anywhere and images will display without any delay. It can be useful both in and out of theatre, when performing procedures, and when learning or teaching ultrasound. There is no advertising in the app making it pleasant and time efficient to use. Terms of use can be found at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Download AnSo today and always have access to this sonoanatomy and nerve block resource.

Screenshots

ClinicalKey4 screens
AnSo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ClinicalKey at none against AnSo's 4. AnSo's advantage is review sentiment (39% vs 9%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, monetization model 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. AnSo sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. ClinicalKey asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, AnSo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
ClinicalKey versus AnSo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClinicalKeyAnSo
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.5 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews8.8% of reviews39.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—30 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
Best chart rank—#82 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB72 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperElsevier Inc.Sumo Enterprises Pty Ltd

Customer experience

ClinicalKey

Written reviews102 reviews
Positive8.8%
Neutral4.9%
Negative86.3%

AnSo

All ratings30 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive39.1%
Neutral6.5%
Negative54.3%

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

AnSo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ClinicalKey

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

AnSo

Subscriptions4
  • AnSo one month subscription14 Days trial$0.491 Month
  • AnSo Pro one year subscription1 Month trial$5.991 Year
  • AnSo Pro subscription1 Year trial$5.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • AnSo one year subscription14 Days trial$5.991 Year

Questions

Is ClinicalKey free?
ClinicalKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AnSo free?
AnSo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ClinicalKey or AnSo have ads?
Neither ClinicalKey nor AnSo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ClinicalKey or AnSo?
ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, and AnSo fortnightly. Most recently, ClinicalKey was updated on September 14, 2026 and AnSo on September 23, 2026.

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