Comparison

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.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Access USPSTF recommendations
  • Search by patient characteristics
  • Identify screening services
  • Find counseling services
  • Discover preventive medications
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

*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

USPSTF Prevention TaskForce4 screens
Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. USPSTF Prevention TaskForce asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce versus Bates' Pocket Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUSPSTF Prevention TaskForceBates' Pocket Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (68 ratings)4.8 (301 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.5% of reviews — better40.9% of reviews
Number of ratings68301 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB10 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAHRQUnbound Medicine, Inc.

Customer experience

USPSTF Prevention TaskForce

All ratings68 ratings
Positive61.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative29.4%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive63.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative30.2%

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings301 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

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
Show 4 more
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Faster loading times

Bates' Pocket Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

USPSTF Prevention TaskForce

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

One-time1
  • Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99

Questions

Is USPSTF Prevention TaskForce free?
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. USPSTF Prevention TaskForce averages 3.6 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 from 301 ratings.
Do USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Neither USPSTF Prevention TaskForce nor Bates' Pocket Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, USPSTF Prevention TaskForce or Bates' Pocket Guide?
USPSTF Prevention TaskForce ships an update every 3 months, and Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Most recently, USPSTF Prevention TaskForce was updated on September 29, 2026 and Bates' Pocket Guide on October 2, 2026.

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