# Medscape vs Pocket Pharmacist

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Pharmacist at 4.7 against Medscape's 3.6. Pocket Pharmacist also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (77% vs 64%). Medscape's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Pharmacist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Medscape asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pocket Pharmacist holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 3.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Medscape's written reviews are positive against 77% of Pocket Pharmacist's.

Medscape ships an update fortnightly, Pocket Pharmacist every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Medscape | Pocket Pharmacist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medscape/id321367289/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-pharmacist/id387365379/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **3.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | **77.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #193 | **#144** |
| Size | 263 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WebMD](https://appshunter.io/developer/295076332) | [Danike, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387365382) |

## What reviewers say

### Medscape

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

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Free · Medical (US App Store)

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


### Pocket Pharmacist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-pharmacist/id387365379)

**Currently charting:** #144 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

Access comprehensive drug information curated by pharmacists, check for drug interactions, and test your knowledge with quizzes. Organize your medications and impress your medical team with neat printouts.

**Highlights:** Pharmacist-curated drug summaries, Unbiased drug information, Fast drug search (offline), Drug interaction checker, Medication quizzes, Medication organizer, Printable medication summaries

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Pharmacist Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Pocket Pharmacist Yearly | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient for keeping track of medications
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 💡 Helpful for healthcare professionals
- 🔍 Comprehensive drug information
- ⭐️ Excellent app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model frustrates existing users
- 🇨🇦 Limited coverage for non-US drugs
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription screen appears unexpectedly
- Unable to access or delete personal information
- Interaction checker not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add medication reminders
- Include over-the-counter medications
- Improve sync functionality between devices
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Medscape free?

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

### Is Pocket Pharmacist free?

Pocket Pharmacist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Medscape or Pocket Pharmacist?

Pocket Pharmacist is rated higher. Medscape averages 3.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Pocket Pharmacist averages 4.7 from 3.9K ratings.

### Do Medscape or Pocket Pharmacist have ads?

Medscape shows ads; Pocket Pharmacist does not.

### Which is updated more often, Medscape or Pocket Pharmacist?

Medscape ships an update fortnightly, and Pocket Pharmacist every 2 months. Most recently, Medscape was updated on September 23, 2026 and Pocket Pharmacist on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Medscape or Pocket Pharmacist?

Medscape currently peaks at #193 in the App Store charts, and Pocket Pharmacist at #144. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*