# Explain Medicine vs SAMF

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Explain Medicine at none against SAMF's 2. Explain Medicine also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 13%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SAMF sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Explain Medicine asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explain Medicine | SAMF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explain-medicine/id1356577412/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **13** | — |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 89 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Medical Joyworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/803816939) | [THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570538522) |

## What reviewers say

### Explain Medicine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explain-medicine/id1356577412)

A quick medical reference for professionals and students, offering evidence-based explanations for over 700 diseases. Ideal for rapid information retrieval during rounds or exam preparation.

**Highlights:** Medical reference for professionals, Explanations for over 700 diseases, Evidence-based information, Fast and easy to use, Designed for students, Quick answers for rounds

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### SAMF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samf/id1574380535)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explain Medicine free?

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

### Is SAMF free?

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

### Do Explain Medicine or SAMF have ads?

Neither Explain Medicine nor SAMF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Explain Medicine or SAMF?

Explain Medicine ships an update every 3 months, and SAMF every 3 months. Most recently, Explain Medicine was updated on September 23, 2026 and SAMF on September 18, 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.*