# UpToDate Lexidrug vs MD Reference

The clearest difference is rating: UpToDate Lexidrug at 4.7 against MD Reference's 3.0. UpToDate Lexidrug also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (4.9K vs 2). MD Reference's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (50% vs 39%). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. UpToDate Lexidrug sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month and MD Reference sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpToDate Lexidrug holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UpToDate Lexidrug has 4.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of UpToDate Lexidrug's written reviews are positive against 50% of MD Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpToDate Lexidrug ships an update monthly, MD Reference every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | UpToDate Lexidrug | MD Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uptodate-lexidrug/id313401238/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.9K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 39.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lexi-Comp](https://appshunter.io/developer/295207927) | [Uptodate In Medicine MMC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1428873400) |

## What reviewers say

### UpToDate Lexidrug

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uptodate-lexidrug/id313401238)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This app provides comprehensive drug information and tools to aid in safe medication decisions. It offers daily updated clinical information, detailed drug databases, interaction checkers, and medical calculators. It is trusted by healthcare professionals and students for quick access to expert content.

**Highlights:** Daily updated clinical drug information, In-depth drug databases with dosing support, Comprehensive drug monographs, Hundreds of medical calculators, Interactive drug interactions checker, Offline database access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lexicomp Professional Package | $29.99 | per month |
| Lexi-COMPLETE | $29.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Best app for drug information
- 📚 Comprehensive and reliable content
- 🔍 Helpful search and navigation
- 🧮 Useful clinical tools (e.g., calculators)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Sluggish performance and slow loading times
- 🔁 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Issues with login and subscription management
- 💰 Expensive subscription cost

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing when trying to access certain features
- Databases not downloading or updating properly
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize database order and priority
- Improved offline functionality and background updates
- More user-friendly interface and navigation


### 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 |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UpToDate Lexidrug free?

UpToDate Lexidrug is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MD Reference free?

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

### Which has better reviews, UpToDate Lexidrug or MD Reference?

UpToDate Lexidrug is rated higher. UpToDate Lexidrug averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.9K ratings, while MD Reference averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do UpToDate Lexidrug or MD Reference have ads?

MD Reference shows ads; UpToDate Lexidrug does not.

### Which is updated more often, UpToDate Lexidrug or MD Reference?

UpToDate Lexidrug ships an update monthly, and MD Reference every 4 months. Most recently, UpToDate Lexidrug was updated on October 15, 2026 and MD Reference on October 4, 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.*