Comparison

Quick Reference Critical Care vs ICU Pilot

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

Head to head
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

About

ICU Pilot

This app helps medical professionals optimize ICU workflows by providing evidence-based management protocols, a comprehensive array of ICU topics, and tools for patient organization and decision-making. It works offline and offers dark mode support for night shifts.

Highlights
  • Evidence-based management protocols
  • Sepsis and ventilator management guides
  • Integrated ABG analyzer
  • Comprehensive ICU topic coverage
  • Personalized daily rounding lists
  • Offline functionality
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

Optimize your ICU workflow with our specialized app—tailored for medical students, residents, and fellows navigating the demanding ICU environment. Access the most current, evidence-based management protocols with ease, such as: Sepsis management: Up-to-date guidance aligned with Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommendations Ventilator management: Practical strategies for acute respiratory failure and ARDS, featuring lung-protective ventilation strategies with PEEP optimization, prone positioning considerations, and weaning protocols. Integrated ABG analyzer: Interpretation of arterial blood gas results with step-by-step acid-base analysis, ventilation and oxygenation. A comprehensive array of high-yield ICU topics is readily available, covering the conditions most frequently encountered in the ICU setting, such as: Shock (including cardiogenic and distributive) Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) COPD, asthma exacerbations GI bleeding Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 Acute renal failure strategies Nutritional support Cardiac arrest recording, post arrest care Generate personalized daily rounding lists, streamline patient organization, enhance decision-making efficiency, and elevate the quality of care you provide. Designed by Intensivists for the future Intensivists —download now to transform your ICU experience. Why this app?: Works offline — no internet required Dark mode support for night shifts Optimized for iPhone and iPad Daily inspirational quotes for motivation Note: ICU Pilot is for educational and organizational purposes. Not HIPAA certified — do not enter protected patient information.

Screenshots

Quick Reference Critical Care4 screens
ICU Pilot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Quick Reference Critical Care at Free against ICU Pilot's $4.99. Quick Reference Critical Care also leads on ratings volume (10 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). ICU Pilot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On rating 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; ICU Pilot costs $4.99 up front. Quick Reference Critical Care sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per 6 months. ICU Pilot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Quick Reference Critical Care against 5.0 for ICU Pilot. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Quick Reference Critical Care has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Quick Reference Critical Care ships an update every 6 months, ICU Pilot daily. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 2 level
Quick Reference Critical Care versus ICU Pilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQuick Reference Critical CareICU Pilot
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.9 (10 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings10 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB35 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSkyscape Medpresso IncVlad Apostol

Customer experience

Quick Reference Critical Care

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

ICU Pilot

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
None

ICU Pilot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Quick Reference Critical Care free?
Quick Reference Critical Care is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ICU Pilot free?
ICU Pilot costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Quick Reference Critical Care or ICU Pilot?
ICU Pilot is rated higher. Quick Reference Critical Care averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while ICU Pilot averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Quick Reference Critical Care or ICU Pilot have ads?
Quick Reference Critical Care shows ads; ICU Pilot does not.
Which is updated more often, Quick Reference Critical Care or ICU Pilot?
Quick Reference Critical Care ships an update every 6 months, and ICU Pilot daily. Most recently, Quick Reference Critical Care was updated on October 14, 2026 and ICU Pilot on October 13, 2026.

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