# PDM vs EMDEX Reference

The clearest difference is rating: EMDEX Reference at 4.7 against PDM's 3.9. EMDEX Reference also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 18 months). PDM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EMDEX Reference sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. PDM asks for nothing beyond the download.

EMDEX Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDM has 28 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of PDM's written reviews are positive against 50% of EMDEX Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PDM ships an update every 18 months, EMDEX Reference every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDM | EMDEX Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdm-itmedicus/id1214804594/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdex-reference/id1441248045/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **55.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 65 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ITmedicus](https://appshunter.io/developer/944794905) | [EMDEX Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441248044) |

## What reviewers say

### PDM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdm-itmedicus/id1214804594)

This medical reference app provides registered doctors with quick access to clinical information for diagnosing and treating common disorders. It offers evidence-based disease descriptions, drug details, calculators, and news to aid in patient care decisions.

**Highlights:** System-wise disease condition index, Evidence-based disease descriptions, Drug brand and generic name details, Linked headings for quick viewing, Clinical laboratory values, Medical calculators and charts, Doctor's forum for discussion, Favorites for bookmarking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### EMDEX Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdex-reference/id1441248045)

This app provides comprehensive drug and therapeutic information for Nigeria, including essential medicines, treatment guidelines, and drug product details. It features an interaction checker, diagnosis and management of prevalent diseases, and a natural health products compendium. Designed for healthcare professionals, it offers enhanced search and detailed drug information.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive drug product database, Essential Medicines List, Standard Treatment Guideline recommendations, Interaction checker, Natural health products compendium, Diagnosis and management of prevalent diseases, Rapid drug news and safety alerts

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Querterly Plan | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly Plan | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDM free?

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

### Is EMDEX Reference free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDM or EMDEX Reference?

EMDEX Reference is rated higher. PDM averages 3.9 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while EMDEX Reference averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do PDM or EMDEX Reference have ads?

EMDEX Reference shows ads; PDM does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDM or EMDEX Reference?

PDM ships an update every 18 months, and EMDEX Reference every 5 months. Most recently, PDM was updated on September 8, 2026 and EMDEX Reference on September 10, 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.*