Comparison

SurgBook vs CSTSetup

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

Head to head
About

SurgBook

Access a curated library of didactic surgical videos designed to enhance understanding of operative techniques. Content ranges from fundamental to advanced surgical concepts, catering to modern surgeons seeking continuous learning.

Highlights
  • Didactic surgical videos
  • Operative technique explanations
  • Basic to advanced surgical content
  • Online learning enhancement
  • Curated new materials
Read full description

SurgBook is a platform for updating surgical learning through didactic videos, specially edited for understanding of various operative techniques. Our goal is to offer an online enhancement, with new materials selected specially for the need of the modern surgeon. We offer content ranging from the basics to the advanced aspects of the art of surgery.

About

CSTSetup

This app provides surgical technologists, students, and educators with a comprehensive library of surgical setups, instrument details, and case log verification. Master hundreds of procedures, identify over 2,700 instruments, and ensure your clinical experience counts towards your logbook.

Highlights
  • Hundreds of surgical setups
  • 2,700+ instrument library
  • Instrument identification and details
  • Surgical case log evaluator
  • Procedural blueprints
  • Instrument handling cautions
Features
Currently charting
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Step into the operating room with confidence. CSTSetup is the clinical companion built for surgical technologists, students and OR educators — your setups, your instrument library, your exam prep and your case log, all in one place. SURGICAL SETUPS 250+ step-by-step setups across General, Cardiac, ENT, Neuro, OB/GYN, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic, Plastics, Urology and Vascular, each with the exact instruments and supplies for the case. General Surgery is free; Pro unlocks every specialty. THE FULL INSTRUMENT LIBRARY Its own tab now: 2,800+ surgical instruments with real photographs, alternate names and handling notes. Pro members can turn, zoom and open real 3D models of hundreds of them. STUDY FOR YOUR CERTIFICATION EXAM A full exam-prep home on the Study tab for the CST (NBSTSA), TS-C (NCCT), CRCST (HSPA), CSPDT (CBSPD) and CSFA (NBSTSA) exams: practice by area, timed exams matched to the real pass mark, and a daily five questions to keep your streak going. CASE LOG EVALUATOR Choose AST, NCCT or CC4SA, check off what you did in the room, and get an instant First Scrub / Second Scrub / Observation answer before you submit it to your program director. CAN'T FIND A SETUP? Ask for it from the Help Desk, right in the app, and we'll notify you when it's built. ONE SUBSCRIPTION CSTSetup Pro unlocks every specialty, the full library, 3D models and every certification exam — in this app, in Instruments, and on cstsetup.com. Download CSTSetup and put the whole back table in your pocket.

Screenshots

SurgBook3 screens
CSTSetup4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CSTSetup at 4.4 against SurgBook's 3.0. CSTSetup also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 10%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). SurgBook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads, 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. CSTSetup sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SurgBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CSTSetup holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of SurgBook's written reviews are positive against 50% of CSTSetup's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SurgBook ships an update every 4 weeks, CSTSetup weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
SurgBook versus CSTSetup: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurgBookCSTSetup
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.4 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews10.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings27 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank—#191 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB59 MB
Age rating+174+
DeveloperYDUQSCSTSetup

Customer experience

SurgBook

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive10.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative70.0%

CSTSetup

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

SurgBook

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

CSTSetup

Subscriptions2
  • CSTSetup Monthly Pro$12.991 Month
  • CSTSetup Yearly Pro$155.991 Year

Questions

Is SurgBook free?
SurgBook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CSTSetup free?
CSTSetup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SurgBook or CSTSetup?
CSTSetup is rated higher. SurgBook averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while CSTSetup averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do SurgBook or CSTSetup have ads?
Neither SurgBook nor CSTSetup shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SurgBook or CSTSetup?
SurgBook ships an update every 4 weeks, and CSTSetup weekly. Most recently, SurgBook was updated on October 3, 2026 and CSTSetup on October 16, 2026.

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