# Elsevier eBooks+ vs Sketchy Learning

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Elsevier eBooks+ at none against Sketchy Learning's 4. Elsevier eBooks+ also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 32). Sketchy Learning's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sketchy Learning sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $289.99 per year. Elsevier eBooks+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sketchy Learning holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elsevier eBooks+ has 1.9K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Elsevier eBooks+'s written reviews are positive against 53% of Sketchy Learning's.

Elsevier eBooks+ ships an update every 2 months, Sketchy Learning every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elsevier eBooks+ | Sketchy Learning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-ebooks-plus/id1643980050/reviews) | **[5.0 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchy-learning/id6502776327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **52.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 183 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/367031326) | [Sketchy Group, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1247590397) |

## What reviewers say

### Elsevier eBooks+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-ebooks-plus/id1643980050)

Access your medical textbooks offline and enhance your learning with tools for note-taking, highlighting, and flashcard creation. Sync your progress and annotations across devices for a seamless study experience.

**Highlights:** Offline book access, Note-taking and highlighting, Flashcard creation, Cross-device syncing, In-book search, Figure viewing and zooming

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Student / Study friendly
- 🚀 Enhances content
- 👍 Ebooks from Elsevier
- 👍 Great app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unable to view images/tables
- 🐛 Useless for medical textbooks
- 🐛 Positioning issues
- 🐛 Scrolling and zooming problems
- 🐛 Slow loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Figures placed at the end of chapters
- Search function only works for single words
- Inability to clear search history
- Freezing and crashing issues
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- More highlighting and note-taking options
- Ability to write, draw, or paste images on pages
- Separate flashcard option integration with Anki/Quizlet
- More font size options
- Streamlined text selection for voiceover


### Sketchy Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchy-learning/id6502776327)

This app transforms complex medical subjects into memorable visual lessons and interactive patient scenarios. It's designed to help students learn faster, master exams, and build clinical confidence. Engage with high-yield content and practice real-world reasoning.

**Highlights:** Visual lessons for memorization, Interactive patient case simulations, High-yield exam content, Quizzes and custom tests, Customizable playlists, Mobile-friendly learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sketchy NP 12 month | $289.99 | per year |
| MCAT Science Review 12 month | $399.99 | per year |
| Sketchy PA 12 month | $399.99 | per year |
| Medical 12 month | $459.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for visual learners
- 👍 Makes learning fun and memorable
- 👍 High-yield material relevant to exams
- 👍 Excellent for retaining information
- 👍 Valuable for medical students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Videos stop in landscape orientation
- 🐛 Can't give feedback on mobile app
- 🐛 Closed captioning settings don't save
- 🐛 Zoom/pan not available in landscape mode
- 🐛 App crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- Video stops playing and closes in landscape orientation
- Keyboard covers submit button when giving feedback on mobile app
- Closed captioning settings do not save
- App crashes when videos are full-screened and phone is turned sideways
- App crashes frequently

**Requested features**

- Ability to create customized tests in the app
- Save closed captioning settings
- Improve zoom and pan functionality in landscape mode
- Bring back bookmarking feature
- Allow scrolling on the side panel within video courses


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elsevier eBooks+ free?

Elsevier eBooks+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sketchy Learning free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Elsevier eBooks+ or Sketchy Learning?

Sketchy Learning is rated higher. Elsevier eBooks+ averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Sketchy Learning averages 5.0 from 32 ratings.

### Do Elsevier eBooks+ or Sketchy Learning have ads?

Sketchy Learning shows ads; Elsevier eBooks+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Elsevier eBooks+ or Sketchy Learning?

Elsevier eBooks+ ships an update every 2 months, and Sketchy Learning every 3 weeks. Most recently, Elsevier eBooks+ was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sketchy Learning on October 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.*