Comparison

Critical ABG vs Quick Reference Critical Care

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

Head to head
About

Critical ABG

This medical app provides a comprehensive analysis of acid-base disorders with a step-by-step approach to understanding them. It includes common causes, differential treatment options, and built-in compensation mechanisms. An optimization calculator for ventilator settings is also available.

Highlights
  • Acid-base disorder analysis
  • Step-by-step understanding
  • Common causes and treatments
  • Compensation mechanisms
  • Ventilation optimization calculator
  • Differential diagnosis
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Critical ABG, from the creators of Critical-Medical Guide, is the first ABG app that is not only visually appealing but also provides a full analysis of acid-base disorders. We're all afraid of acid-base imbalances. Critical ABG will not only inform clinicians whether acid-base problems are present, but will also take you through a step-by-step approach to cognitively understanding the disorder, as well as common causes and differential treatment options based on the current literature. Critical ABG covers some of the most up-to-date differentials and treatments, as well as built-in compensation mechanisms, such as expected bicarbonate, pC02, Winter's formula, and more, - which everyone dreads having to memorize.  Not only will the user learn about common disorders, but there's also a ventilation optimization calculator for those that need to adjust ventilator settings. This app is not only suited for physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and PA's but also medical, nursing, PA, and paramedic students who wish to sharpen their acid-base interpretation skills. Remember always to treat the patient - not the numbers and to correlate clinically. Get Critical ABG now and enjoy the ease of interpretation. Critical ABG is based on common equations in the medical realm. The information included is solely for educational purposes and doesn't constitute medical advice. Therefore, always consult a physician before any diagnosis or treatment.

About

Quick Reference Critical Care

This app provides immediate, on-the-job answers for critical care professionals. It offers updated, evidence-based procedures and stabilization practices in a quick-read outline format, covering a broad range of patient topics by body system.

Highlights
  • Updated critical care content
  • Full-color images
  • Extensive abbreviations list
  • Bulleted outline format
  • Over 350 illustrations
  • Body system chapters
  • SmartSearch technology
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.   Need to brush up on your ICU skills? New to ICU, or a veteran? Get immediate on-the-job answers, with the popular and fully updated Quick Reference to Critical Care, 6th Edition. This indispensable pocket guide addresses a broad range of critical care patient topics, divided by body system and organized alphabetically within each chapter for quick access. Disease processes, disorders, medications, and titration, tests, lab results, formulas, ICU equipment and treatment strategies and goals are discussed. Each well-illustrated entry explains the latest evidence-based procedures and stabilization practices in a convenient, quick-read outline, making it the ideal quick reference for following proven protocols. Up-level your critical care expertise and confidence, with: * NEW and completely updated content that offers current information on cutting edge critical care topics * NEW full-color images throughout * NEW extensive abbreviations list that explains unfamiliar abbreviations found in progress notes, surgical reports and other medical documents * Ideal on-the-spot quick reference – Read-at-a-glance bulleted outline format that helps you grasp ideas quickly and take immediate action * More than 350 illustrations – figures, algorithms, photos, drawings and tables that outline core terms and concepts, with easy-to-retain definitions of key terms * Chapters for each body system – expert nursing guidance on evaluating and treating the neurologic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and urinary, renal, endocrine, hematologic and immune systems * Each chapter offers an alpha-organized list of disorders and injuries pertaining to that topic or body system * Vital direction for on-the-unit action – includes sections on labs, imaging and miscellaneous items not covered in other sections * Expert direction on areas such as body system structures and functions, anatomy, diagnostic tools, surgical methods, signs and symptoms, treatments, monitoring, drug administration, catheters and electrode procedures, waveforms and more The quick-reference format offers: * Extensive cross-referencing – leads to related information * Tables and charts – vital info on medication, dosing, conversions, compatibilities, and more * “Troubleshooting” feature – practical guidance for solving technical problems or complications   No internet connection is required to access the content after the initial download. Find information quickly using powerful SmartSearch technology. Search part of term for those hard to spell medical terms. Content licensed from printed ISBN 10: 1975136837 Content licensed from printed ISBN 13: 9781975136833 SUBSCRIPTION : Please choose an auto renewable subscription plan to receive content access & continuous updates. Your subscription automatically renews as per your plan, so you always have the latest content.   Yearly auto-renewing payments - $59.99 Six-month subscription - $39.99   Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user & auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable.   If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-30000   Privacy Policy-https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions-https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx   Editor(s): Nancy H. Diepenbrock Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Screenshots

Critical ABG4 screens
Quick Reference Critical Care4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Quick Reference Critical Care at Free against Critical ABG's $3.99. Quick Reference Critical Care also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 42 months). Critical ABG's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume and device support 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

Quick Reference Critical Care is free to download; Critical ABG costs $3.99 up front. Quick Reference Critical Care sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per 6 months. Critical ABG asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Quick Reference Critical Care holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 10 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Critical ABG ships an update every 42 months, Quick Reference Critical Care every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Critical ABG versus Quick Reference Critical Care: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCritical ABGQuick Reference Critical Care
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.9 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings410 — better
Update frequencyEvery 42 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#199 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB46 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperThe Barringer Group, LLCSkyscape Medpresso Inc

Customer experience

Critical ABG

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Quick Reference Critical Care

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Critical ABG

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Quick Reference Critical Care

Subscriptions2
  • Quick Ref-Critical Care 6M Sub$39.996 Months
  • Quick Ref-Critical Care 1Y Sub$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Critical ABG free?
Critical ABG costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Quick Reference Critical Care free?
Quick Reference Critical Care is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Critical ABG or Quick Reference Critical Care?
Quick Reference Critical Care is rated higher. Critical ABG averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Quick Reference Critical Care averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.
Do Critical ABG or Quick Reference Critical Care have ads?
Quick Reference Critical Care shows ads; Critical ABG does not.
Which is updated more often, Critical ABG or Quick Reference Critical Care?
Critical ABG ships an update every 42 months, and Quick Reference Critical Care every 6 months. Most recently, Critical ABG was updated on October 21, 2026 and Quick Reference Critical Care on October 14, 2026.

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