# Essentials Handbook vs PDB Prep

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Essentials Handbook at 100% against PDB Prep's 47%. Essentials Handbook also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDB Prep sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month. Essentials Handbook asks for nothing beyond the download.

Essentials Handbook ships an update monthly, PDB Prep every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essentials Handbook | PDB Prep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentials-handbook/id1251459425/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 14 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Center for Physician Education, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1217564930) | [Steven Glickman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618986296) |

## What reviewers say

### Essentials Handbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essentials-handbook/id1251459425)

This educational handbook provides essential information for physicians covering general hospital procedures, systems, patient care, and infection control. It serves as a comprehensive resource for medical professionals.

**Highlights:** General Ins & Outs, Systems Information, Patient Care Guidelines, Infection Control Protocols

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PDB Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdb-prep/id1618986294)

Prepare for your Pediatric Dental Board exams with a comprehensive flashcard system. Access over 1,000 high-yield questions, detailed explanations, and clinical scenarios to build in-depth knowledge. Track your progress and master the material for test day success.

**Highlights:** 1,000+ high-yield questions, 8 exam-based categories, Detailed explanations, Full-color images, Clinical scenarios with radiographs, Question sorting by knowledge level

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $99.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Premium | $149.99 | per 3 months |
| Six Month Premium | $199.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium | $249.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essentials Handbook free?

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

### Is PDB Prep free?

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

### Do Essentials Handbook or PDB Prep have ads?

Neither Essentials Handbook nor PDB Prep shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essentials Handbook or PDB Prep?

Essentials Handbook ships an update monthly, and PDB Prep every 3 weeks. Most recently, Essentials Handbook was updated on September 22, 2026 and PDB Prep on September 30, 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.*