USPSTF Prevention TaskForce vs Bates' Pocket Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce
This app provides primary care clinicians with evidence-based recommendations for preventive services. It helps identify appropriate screening, counseling, and medication services for patients based on their individual characteristics.
- Access USPSTF recommendations
- Search by patient characteristics
- Identify screening services
- Find counseling services
- Discover preventive medications
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The Prevention TaskForce (formerly ePSS) is an application designed and developed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Nation's lead Federal agency for research on health care quality, costs, outcomes and patient safety. It was developed by AHRQ to support the independent U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. AHRQ provides support to the USPSTF. The Prevention TaskForce application was developed to assist primary care clinicians identify the screening, counseling, and preventive medication services that are appropriate for their patients. The Prevention TaskForce information is based on the current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and can be searched by specific patient characteristics, such as age, sex, and selected behavioral risk factors. When using this tool please read the specific recommendation to determine if the preventive service is appropriate for your patient. This tool is not meant to replace clinical judgment and individualized patient care. *Application downloads and data updates require internet connectivity
Bates' Pocket Guide
This app provides essential information for obtaining health histories and conducting physical exams. It features step-by-step techniques, updated images, and differential diagnoses for quick and accurate interpretation of findings. Ideal for students and professionals needing a fast reference.
- Over 130 detailed topics
- Step-by-step instructions
- Updated photographs and illustrations
- Two-column layout
- New Algorithms for symptom approaches
- Differential diagnoses
- Highlighting and note-taking
- Advanced search
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*Featuring the latest content from the latest edition* ABOUT THE BATES' GUIDE: The Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking contains the critical information needed to obtain a meaningful health history, conduct a thorough physical exam, and interpret the findings quickly and accurately. Locate answers fast and review step-by-step techniques and possible findings using the distinctive two-column format with updated images. Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking is the ideal quick-reference resource for today’s medical, PA, pharmacy, and nursing students. FEATURES: • Over 130 detailed topics with step-by-step instructions • Updated photographs, illustrations, and references reinforce key content based on the latest evidence-based information • Two-column layout optimized for smartphones and tablets • New Algorithms provide helpful starting approaches for patients with common presenting symptoms. • Differential diagnoses for common, normal, and abnormal findings • Highlight and take notes within any entry • Advanced Search helps find topics quickly • “Favorites” for bookmarking important entries Authors: Lynn S. Bickley MD, FACP, Peter G. Szilagyi MD, MPH, Richard M. Hoffman MD, MPH, FACP, Rainier P. Soriano MD Publisher: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bates' Pocket Guide at 4.8 against USPSTF Prevention TaskForce's 3.6. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on ratings volume (301 vs 68) and device support (4 vs 2). USPSTF Prevention TaskForce's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. USPSTF Prevention TaskForce asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 301 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of USPSTF Prevention TaskForce's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce ships an update every 3 months, Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | USPSTF Prevention TaskForce | Bates' Pocket Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (68 ratings) | 4.8 (301 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 63.5% of reviews — better | 40.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 68 | 301 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | AHRQ | Unbound Medicine, Inc. |
Customer experience
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce
Bates' Pocket Guide
Bugs and requests
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce
Reported bugs
9 issues- App crashes on startup
- Recommendations are broken/inaccurate
- App not compatible with recent iOS updates
- Menu won't stay open
- Unable to download
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- Recommendations won't load
- Non-functioning links
- Does not filter correctly
- Resets everything when going back to home page
Requested features
6 requests- Update recommendations
- Add more units of measurement (kg/meters)
- Update for dark mode
- Improve UI/UX
- Add more diseases to profile
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- Faster loading times
Bates' Pocket Guide
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce
No in-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
Questions
Is USPSTF Prevention TaskForce free?
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Which has better reviews, USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Do USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Which is updated more often, USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide?
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