Comparison

Bullets* vs SAMF

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

Head to head
About

Bullets*

Access medical and orthopedic educational content, including topics, questions, and cases. Create custom exams, review scientific articles, and monitor community activity. Earn CME credits through self-assessment exams and collaborative learning.

Highlights
  • Medical and orthopedic topics
  • Customizable exams (Testmaster)
  • Article review with PDFs
  • Community activity feed
  • Earn CME credits
  • Point of Care Learning (PoCL)
Features
Read full description

The companion APP for Orthobullets.com and Medbullets.com. Bullets* contains medbullets and orthobullets Topics, Questions, Techniques, Cases, Videos, and Evidence. Our Testmaster allows you to create, take, and review customized exams. Article links allows for quick review of scientific abstracts and often the PDF is provided and can be viewed on your phone. Our "Home" screen allows you to monitor a thread of educational activity within our community. All educational activity, including the Qbank, is synced with the main platform for seamless use on both your iPhone APP and computer. You can earn CME by taking Self-Assessment Exams and contributing to our free collaboration community by posting educational comments with scientific references as part of our Point of Care Learning (PoCL) activity. All CME Study Plan examinations can be taken on the iPhone and can be found on your CME Dashboard. Residents on the PASS institutional platform can take PASS exams, complete their PASS Skillmaster learning modules, and submit both Rotation and Milestone Skill Evaluations to faculty. Faculty members using PASS Pro 2.0 can grade Rotation Evaluations and Milestone Skill Evaluations on the APP, eliminating the need to log in with each evaluation.

About

SAMF

This medical reference app provides up-to-date, reliable, and unbiased information on medicines and clinical management protocols. It serves as a trusted guide for healthcare practitioners, offering evaluated content independent of the pharmaceutical industry.

Highlights
  • Up-to-date medicines information
  • Clinical management protocols
  • Reliable and unbiased content
  • Trusted reference guide
  • Independent from pharmaceutical industry
  • Mobile and web portal access
Features
Read full description

Regarded as the gold standard of medicines information and clinical management protocols in South Africa, the South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF), first published in 1988, is a trusted source of information and provides up-to-date, reliable, unbiased and evaluated information on medicines. Currently on its 15th edition , it has become a standard health practitioner's medicine reference guide, respected for accuracy of content and independence from the pharmaceutical industry. It is now available on this mobile application and supported by a web portal (https://samf-app.com/) which subscribers will have access to. The SAMF application and Book is a joint initiative of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town and the South African Medical Association (SAMA). Liquid thought maintains the application and web portal. To find information on each of the entities : - Medicines Information Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town: http://www.mic.uct.ac.za - South African Medical Association: https://www.samedical.org - Liquid thought: https://www.liquidthought.co.za All content provided in the Platform is for informational, educational and assistive purposes only, and is not a substitute for the professional judgement of healthcare professionals diagnosing and treating patients. UCT and SAMA do not provide medical advice or medical or diagnostic services through the Platform. Any reliance on the content obtained on or through the Platform is at your own risk. SAMF Citation: - Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences. (2024). South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF). SAMF website. https://samf-app.com Get access to SAMF app content with an in-app purchase. There are 2 subscription options to choose from: - 1 month subscription costs R93.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location) - 1 year subscription costs R929.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location) Payment will be made at the time of purchase confirmation via your App Store account The subscription will be automatically extended if you do not switch off the automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the premium membership expires

Screenshots

Bullets*4 screens
SAMF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bullets* at 68% against SAMF's 13%. Bullets* also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads 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. SAMF sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bullets* asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bullets* ships an update every 8 days, SAMF every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bullets* versus SAMF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBullets*SAMF
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (61 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews — better12.5% of reviews
Number of ratings61 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size168 MB72 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperLineage Medical, LLCTHE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Customer experience

Bullets*

All ratings61 ratings
Positive73.8%
Neutral6.6%
Negative19.7%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral10.8%
Negative21.6%

SAMF

Written reviews16 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral18.8%
Negative68.8%

In-app purchases

None

Bullets*

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SAMF

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Bullets* free?
Bullets* is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SAMF free?
SAMF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Bullets* or SAMF have ads?
Neither Bullets* nor SAMF shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bullets* or SAMF?
Bullets* ships an update every 8 days, and SAMF every 3 months. Most recently, Bullets* was updated on September 15, 2026 and SAMF on September 18, 2026.

Other comparisons