# ClinicalKey vs MedCalc

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MedCalc at 100% against ClinicalKey's 9%. MedCalc also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks). ClinicalKey's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MedCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ClinicalKey asks for nothing beyond the download.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | ClinicalKey | MedCalc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medcalc/id6760578537/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 8.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 68 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +12 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/367031326) | [亭 邓](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570848574) |

## 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


### MedCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medcalc/id6760578537)

This app offers a comprehensive collection of essential medical calculators across various specialties. It features smart search, offline access, and a favorites function for quick access to frequently used tools. Optimized for low-light environments with dark mode and bilingual support.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive medical calculator library, Favorites for quick access, Smart search functionality, Offline access, Dark mode support, Bilingual (English/Chinese)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Plan | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ClinicalKey free?

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

### Is MedCalc free?

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

### Do ClinicalKey or MedCalc have ads?

Neither ClinicalKey nor MedCalc shows ads.

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

ClinicalKey ships an update every 5 weeks, and MedCalc every 4 days. Most recently, ClinicalKey was updated on November 4, 2026 and MedCalc on November 5, 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.*