DrugDoses vs SAMF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DrugDoses
Provides precise medication dosages and critical medical information for healthcare professionals, particularly in pediatric intensive care. Includes extensive drug listings, lab values, cardiology data, and pediatric calculation tools for enhanced patient safety and treatment.
- Extensive drug database (2,150+ entries)
- Pediatric calculation tools (PedCalc)
- Lab values and cardiology database
- Up-to-date medication information
- Adult and pediatric drug listings
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Designed for pediatric intensivists, DrugDoses provides precise and up-to-date medication information to ensure the safety and recovery of your patients. With over 2,150 drug entries, it’s a comprehensive resource for commonly prescribed drugs for both adults and children. Frank Shann’s DrugDoses booklet has been a trusted tool for nearly 40 years. The iOS version keeps you at the forefront of therapeutic advancements, updating drug information faster than the paper version. Beyond drug listings, the app includes over 150 lab values and a complete cardiology database, making it a versatile resource for critical medical information. The integrated PedCalc tool offers essential pediatric scores and formulas, including: ASA score Alveolo-arterial gradient Anion gap Apgar score Blunt abdominal trauma score Body mass index Body surface area Corrected Ca Creatinine clearance (measured & estimated) Endotracheal tube sizes FeNa Glasgow Coma Score Glasgow Outcome Scale Ideal Body Weight Maintenance fluids Mallampati score NACA score Neonatal central lines Oxygen index PaO2/FiO2 ratio Parkland formula Pediatric trauma score Predicted height & spirometry values QTc interval Tubular phosphate reabsorption Vital Signs Follow us on Facebook (http://facebook.drugdoses.net) for updates and to share suggestions. Our Privacy Policy is available at www.drugdoses.net/privacy. DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this app is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It is based on the reference: Drug Doses, by Frank Shann, 17th edition, Melbourne, Australia, 2017, Collective Pty, Limited, ISBN: 9780648005308. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the authors and developers cannot guarantee that it is free from errors or omissions. Users are responsible for making their own clinical decisions based on the information provided in this app. By using this app, you acknowledge that: - You are a healthcare professional. - You understand that the information provided is for educational purposes only. - You should consult relevant medical literature or colleagues when making clinical decisions, as this app is not a substitute for professional judgment. - You take full responsibility for the clinical decisions you make based on the information provided. - You understand that the authors and developers are not liable for any errors or omissions in the content or for any outcomes related to its use. This disclaimer must be agreed to upon first use of the app and will remain accessible in the settings for future reference. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, please email us at info@drugdoses.net.
SAMF
This medical reference app provides up-to-date, reliable, and unbiased information on medicines and clinical management protocols. It serves as a trusted guide for healthcare practitioners, offering evaluated content independent of the pharmaceutical industry.
- Up-to-date medicines information
- Clinical management protocols
- Reliable and unbiased content
- Trusted reference guide
- Independent from pharmaceutical industry
- Mobile and web portal access
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Regarded as the gold standard of medicines information and clinical management protocols in South Africa, the South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF), first published in 1988, is a trusted source of information and provides up-to-date, reliable, unbiased and evaluated information on medicines. Currently on its 15th edition , it has become a standard health practitioner's medicine reference guide, respected for accuracy of content and independence from the pharmaceutical industry. It is now available on this mobile application and supported by a web portal (https://samf-app.com/) which subscribers will have access to. The SAMF application and Book is a joint initiative of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town and the South African Medical Association (SAMA). Liquid thought maintains the application and web portal. To find information on each of the entities : - Medicines Information Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town: http://www.mic.uct.ac.za - South African Medical Association: https://www.samedical.org - Liquid thought: https://www.liquidthought.co.za All content provided in the Platform is for informational, educational and assistive purposes only, and is not a substitute for the professional judgement of healthcare professionals diagnosing and treating patients. UCT and SAMA do not provide medical advice or medical or diagnostic services through the Platform. Any reliance on the content obtained on or through the Platform is at your own risk. SAMF Citation: - Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences. (2024). South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF). SAMF website. https://samf-app.com Get access to SAMF app content with an in-app purchase. There are 2 subscription options to choose from: - 1 month subscription costs R93.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location) - 1 year subscription costs R929.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location) Payment will be made at the time of purchase confirmation via your App Store account The subscription will be automatically extended if you do not switch off the automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the premium membership expires
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: DrugDoses at 64% against SAMF's 13%. DrugDoses also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SAMF's advantage is price (Free vs $14.99) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
SAMF is free to download; DrugDoses costs $14.99 up front. DrugDoses sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and SAMF sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
DrugDoses ships an update every 9 months, SAMF every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DrugDoses | SAMF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (36 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews — better | 12.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 36 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #170 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Oliver Karam | THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION |
Customer experience
DrugDoses
SAMF
Bugs and requests
DrugDoses
Reported bugs
29 issues- Code blue not working
- Cannot enter decimal in drug dosage
- Purchase not restorable
- License expiring unexpectedly
- Payment issues (not allowed to make payment)
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- App not compatible with iOS 8
- Unable to open and use all functions on new iPhone
- App won't work due to expired license
- Paediatric dosage calculator disabled
- Code Blue, PedCalc, PICU guidelines not working
- App crashes or freezes
- Cannot select lowest few drugs in search list
- Features removed in updates
- No calculator implementation
- Information is scanty
- UI and text formatting need improvement
- Terrible typesetting reproduced
- Cannot put decimal points in weight for calculations
- Calculator not integrated with drug list
- Palm PDA version was better
- Missing normal vital signs by age
- Missing estimated weight for age
- Missing ET tube sizes by age
- Missing intranasal fentanyl doses
- Missing infusions compatibility table
- Missing values for ETT sizes
- Missing DC shock energy
- Missing useful notes pages
- Calculator not at bottom of screen
Requested features
38 requests- Add side effects and pharmacodynamics information
- Improve text formatting and spacing
- Support modern screen sizes
- Add regular updates
- Implement a restore purchase feature
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- Fix license expiration issues
- Add dark mode
- Improve UI and text formatting
- Add decimal points for weight calculations
- Integrate calculator on each drug screen
- Improve resuscitation calculator
- Add infusions compatibility table
- Include values for ETT sizes
- Include DC shock energy
- Include useful notes pages
- Combine with PICU Guidelines app
- Incorporate calculator with drug list for instant dose display
- Add weight-based dose calculation
- Add intranasal fentanyl doses
- Add normal vital signs by age
- Add estimated weight for age
- Add ET tube sizes by age
- Add calculator at bottom of screen
- Update to iOS 8 compatibility
- Fix bugs for iOS 8
- Fix iPhone 6 plus compatibility
- Fix babies between neonatal and 1yo weights for calculator
- Keep Australian spelling
- Acknowledge Frank Shann on load screen
- Improve navigation within favourites list
- Change first page back to book cover
- Add weight input for drug dose display
- Add roast potato recipe (joking)
- Update to latest edition of Frank's book
- Make app free or more affordable
- Add more drug information
- Improve calculator functionality
- Add more features to resuscitation calculator
SAMF
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
DrugDoses
- One year license renewal$4.991 Year
- PedCalc 1st bundle$0.99
- PICU Guidelines$4.99
- Lifetime license$4.99
SAMF
- Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly subscription$49.991 Year









