Comparison

Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference vs DRUGDOCS

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

Head to head
About

Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference

Access comprehensive drug information for nurses, including over 5,000 trade and generic names, FDA-approved drugs, and Black Box Warnings. Features safety alerts, IV administration details, and nursing process frameworks to ensure accurate and safe medication administration.

Highlights
  • 5,000+ drug profiles
  • Black Box Warnings
  • Safety Alert feature
  • IV drug administration details
  • 26 built-in calculators
  • Organized by body system side effects
Features
Read full description

Try Before You Buy – Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. An in-app purchase is required to unlock all content. Based on the 40th print edition, Mosby’s 2027 Nursing Drug Reference gives nurses fast access to essential drug information for safe and accurate medication administration. Trusted by nurses for over 35 years, this comprehensive drug handbook profiles more than 5,000 generic and trade name drugs, including more than 22 new entries for recently FDA-approved medications. The reference emphasizes patient safety with Black Box Warnings, High Alerts for higher-risk drugs, side effects organized by body system and identified as common or life-threatening, and clear coverage of IV drug administration. Complete pharmacokinetic information, alphabetical organization, and both trade and generic indexing make it easy to locate drug information quickly at the point of care. New and updated content provides current guidance on interactions, precautions, alerts, and patient teaching instructions, helping nurses administer medications safely, accurately, and professionally. Selected for 2026 Doody’s Core Titles in Pharmacology Choose the drug handbook trusted by nurses for more than 35 years. From nursing pharmacology expert Linda Skidmore-Roth, Mosby’s 2027 Nursing Drug Reference provides the vital information nurses need on the medications they administer most frequently, with a strong focus on medication safety and clinical practice. New to This Edition * NEW! More than 22 monographs on newly released, FDA-approved drugs provide up-to-date information on the latest drug therapies. * UPDATED! Completely reviewed and revised drug monographs include new interactions, precautions, alerts, patient teaching instructions, and other essential information to help prevent medication errors. Key Features * Information on more than 5,000 generic and trade name drugs covers almost every medication you are likely to encounter in clinical practice. * Black Box Warning feature alerts you to FDA warnings about potentially life-threatening reactions. * Safety Alert icons highlight critical interactions and side effects that require attention. * IV drug administration information is clearly highlighted for easy access to dosage and IV administration instructions. * Side effects are organized by body system and identified as common or life-threatening, helping you recognize signs to monitor during patient assessments. * Nursing Process steps organize nursing care information, helping you apply the nursing process to clinical experiences. * Logical alphabetical organization by generic name, with both trade and generic names in the index, provides quick access to specific drug information. * Complete pharmacokinetic information is summarized in tables and includes drug mechanism, absorption, action, duration, and excretion. Content Information
Content licensed from the printed edition:
ISBN-13: 9780443385476
ISBN-10: 0443385475 Subscription
 Please purchase a yearly auto-renewing subscription to receive content access and available updates. Yearly auto-renewing payment: $44.99 Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account upon confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can manage your subscription and disable auto-renewal through your device’s Settings > iTunes & App Store. Any unused portion of a free trial period, where applicable, will be forfeited when a subscription is purchased. Privacy Policy: https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx
Terms & Conditions: https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx
Privacy: https://www.skyscape.com/index/privacy.aspx Author: Linda Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP
 Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences Company

About

DRUGDOCS

Features
Read full description

DRUGDOCS® provides health professionals with current, evidence-based information on the drugs they prescribe with direct access to publications.

Screenshots

Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference4 screens
DRUGDOCS3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DRUGDOCS at none against Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference's 6. DRUGDOCS also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per 6 months. DRUGDOCS asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference ships an update every 3 months, DRUGDOCS monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference versus DRUGDOCS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMosby’s Nursing Drug ReferenceDRUGDOCS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (164 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings164 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB23 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSkyscape Medpresso IncThera-Business Inc

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference

Subscriptions6
  • Mosby Nursing Drug Ref 6/M Sub$29.996 Months
  • 25% Off-Mosby Nursing Drug$33.901 Year
  • Mosby Nursing Drug 1YofferSub$35.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • 20% Off-Mosby Nursing Drug$35.991 Year
  • 15% Off-Mosby Nursing Drug$38.491 Year
  • Mosby Nursing Drug Ref 1Y Sub.$44.991 Year
None

DRUGDOCS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference free?
Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DRUGDOCS free?
DRUGDOCS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference or DRUGDOCS have ads?
Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference shows ads; DRUGDOCS does not.
Which is updated more often, Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference or DRUGDOCS?
Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference ships an update every 3 months, and DRUGDOCS monthly. Most recently, Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference was updated on September 24, 2026 and DRUGDOCS on September 17, 2026.

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