# Medscape vs MD Reference

The clearest difference is rating: Medscape at 3.6 against MD Reference's 3.0. Medscape also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). MD Reference's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MD Reference sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Medscape asks for nothing beyond the download.

Medscape holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Medscape has 1.4K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Medscape's written reviews are positive against 50% of MD Reference's.

Medscape ships an update every 2 weeks, MD Reference every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Medscape | MD Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medscape/id321367289/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md-reference/id1509330680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **63.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 275 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WebMD](https://appshunter.io/developer/295076332) | [Uptodate In Medicine MMC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1428873400) |

## What reviewers say

### Medscape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medscape/id321367289)

This app provides healthcare professionals with immediate clinical answers, medical news, and CME/CE activities. It features AI-driven tools for patient visit transcription and summarization, patient calling, and instant expert answers to medical questions. Access a comprehensive drug database, calculators, and procedural videos to enhance clinical practice.

**Highlights:** AI-driven Scribe for transcription and summarization, AI Search for instant medical answers, Drug Interaction Checker, Pill Identifier, 450+ medical calculators, Free CME/CE credits, Medical news and expert commentary

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 📚 Comprehensive medical information
- 💻 Offline access to content
- 🆓 Free app with no ads
- 🏥 Useful for healthcare professionals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 📱 Not optimized for iPad/larger screens
- 🛒 Issues with Amazon gift card rewards
- ⏱️ Slow response speed and lagging
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on opening after recent update
- Unable to access articles or content
- Broken links and issues with CME activities
- Logging in and account management problems
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Allow users to manually enter city during registration
- Add more languages (e.g., Spanish)
- Improve CME/education features and tracking
- Introduce an ad-free paid version
- Enhance search functionality and organization


### 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 Medscape free?

Medscape is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MD Reference free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Medscape or MD Reference?

Medscape is rated higher. Medscape averages 3.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while MD Reference averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Medscape or MD Reference have ads?

Both Medscape and MD Reference show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Medscape or MD Reference?

Medscape ships an update every 2 weeks, and MD Reference every 4 months. Most recently, Medscape was updated on October 12, 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.*