# MD Reference vs OpenEvidence

The clearest difference is rating: OpenEvidence at 4.9 against MD Reference's 3.0. OpenEvidence also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). MD Reference's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MD Reference sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. OpenEvidence asks for nothing beyond the download.

OpenEvidence holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenEvidence has 12K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of MD Reference's written reviews are positive against 81% of OpenEvidence's.

MD Reference ships an update every 4 months, OpenEvidence weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MD Reference | OpenEvidence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680/reviews) | **[4.9 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openevidence/id6612007783/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **80.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#34** |
| Size | 14 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | +17 |
| Developer | [Uptodate In Medicine MMC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1428873400) | [OpenEvidence Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761260627) |

## What reviewers say

### MD Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680)

This medical reference app aims to improve healthcare quality by providing medical professionals with updated knowledge and modern technologies. It helps practitioners stay informed about advancements and apply them in their practice. The service operates on a subscription basis with various plans available.

**Highlights:** Enhances medical knowledge, Keeps users updated on new technologies, Facilitates practical application of knowledge, Subscription-based access, Personalized user accounts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 3 months subscription | $8.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 months subscription | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 months subscription | $23.99 | per year |


### OpenEvidence

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openevidence/id6612007783)

**Currently charting:** #34 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

This app provides healthcare professionals with evidence-based clinical decision support and medical information. It acts as a search engine, sourcing answers from peer-reviewed literature and leading medical organizations to aid in high-stakes medical decisions at the point of care.

**Highlights:** Clinical decision support, Medical search engine, Sourced from peer-reviewed literature, FDA and CDC data integration, Partnerships with leading medical journals, Verified healthcare professional access

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and concise answers
- 💡 Provides references and sources
- 👍 Helpful for clinical practice
- 🚀 Efficient search and retrieval
- 👍 Invaluable quick reference tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App not working in latest update
- ⚠️ Requires specific prompts for complete information

**Reported bugs**

- App not working in latest update

**Requested features**

- Availability on MacBook
- Integration with clinical workflows and EMRs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MD Reference free?

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

### Is OpenEvidence free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MD Reference or OpenEvidence?

OpenEvidence is rated higher. MD Reference averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while OpenEvidence averages 4.9 from 12K ratings.

### Do MD Reference or OpenEvidence have ads?

MD Reference shows ads; OpenEvidence does not.

### Which is updated more often, MD Reference or OpenEvidence?

MD Reference ships an update every 4 months, and OpenEvidence weekly. Most recently, MD Reference was updated on October 4, 2026 and OpenEvidence on October 13, 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.*