# EMDEX Reference vs Drug Guide & Medication

The clearest difference is ads: Drug Guide & Medication at none against EMDEX Reference's shown. Drug Guide & Medication also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (146 vs 3). EMDEX Reference's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs freemium). On price, rating, in-app purchases 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 and Drug Guide & Medication sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for EMDEX Reference against 4.7 for Drug Guide & Medication. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drug Guide & Medication has 146 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

EMDEX Reference ships an update every 5 months, Drug Guide & Medication monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EMDEX Reference | Drug Guide & Medication |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdex-reference/id1441248045/reviews) | **[4.7 (146 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drug-guide-and-medication/id1623186203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **146** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 53 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [EMDEX Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441248044) | [Ekaterina Padogina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462082905) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Drug Guide & Medication

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drug-guide-and-medication/id1623186203)

Access comprehensive information on all FDA-approved drugs, including consumer guides, professional details, and drug interactions. Explore medication details, hepatotoxicity, and drug class information. Offers cloud syncing and advanced features through subscriptions.

**Highlights:** FDA-approved drug information, Consumer and patient guides, Professional drug details, Drug interaction information, Hepatotoxicity exploration, Cloud bookmarks and notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drug Guide. Monthly Pro. | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro. Save 15% | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EMDEX Reference free?

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

### Is Drug Guide & Medication free?

Drug Guide & Medication is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, EMDEX Reference or Drug Guide & Medication?

Drug Guide & Medication is rated higher. EMDEX Reference averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Drug Guide & Medication averages 4.7 from 146 ratings.

### Do EMDEX Reference or Drug Guide & Medication have ads?

EMDEX Reference shows ads; Drug Guide & Medication does not.

### Which is updated more often, EMDEX Reference or Drug Guide & Medication?

EMDEX Reference ships an update every 5 months, and Drug Guide & Medication monthly. Most recently, EMDEX Reference was updated on September 10, 2026 and Drug Guide & Medication on September 12, 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.*