# Merck Manual Professional vs VisualDx

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Merck Manual Professional at none against VisualDx's 10. Merck Manual Professional also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 186). VisualDx's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VisualDx sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month. Merck Manual Professional asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merck Manual Professional holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merck Manual Professional has 1.1K ratings behind it against 186, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Merck Manual Professional's written reviews are positive against 84% of VisualDx's.

Merck Manual Professional ships an update every 4 months, VisualDx fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merck Manual Professional | VisualDx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merck-manual-professional/id331016312/reviews)** | [4.4 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visualdx/id348177521/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 186 |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 84.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#24** |
| Size | 196 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Merck & Co Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/334253467) | [Logical Images](https://appshunter.io/developer/348177524) |

## What reviewers say

### Merck Manual Professional

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merck-manual-professional/id331016312)

This medical reference app offers healthcare practitioners and students clear, practical explanations for thousands of conditions across major medical and surgical specialties. It includes photos, illustrations, instructional videos, drug information, quizzes, and case simulations to stay updated with the latest clinical information.

**Highlights:** Thousands of medical topics, Photos and illustrations, Instructional 'How to' videos, Drug reference information, Knowledge quizzes, Interactive case simulations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Excellent medical resource
- 🔍 Comprehensive and up-to-date information
- 🎓 Valuable for medical professionals and students
- 🔍 Reliable and trusted source
- 🖥️ Great offline accessibility

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🔍 Outdated or missing content
- 🔍 Difficult navigation and organization

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when searching for certain conditions
- Images and videos not loading properly
- Offline mode not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add personalization features like notes, highlights, and flashcards
- Improve search functionality and relevance
- Provide more frequent content updates
- Enhance app stability and performance


### VisualDx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visualdx/id348177521)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This visual reference tool aids medical professionals in improving patient engagement and diagnostic accuracy. It utilizes AI and a vast image atlas to help build custom differentials, share patient-specific images, and access comprehensive diagnostic information. Earn continuing education credits while making better medical decisions.

**Highlights:** Build custom differentials, Engage patients with visual aids, Improve diagnostic accuracy, Access therapy and test options, Recognize infectious diseases, Earn CME credits

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Complete (1 Month) | $39.99 | per month |
| VisualDx Core Monthly | $39.99 | per month |
| Complete+DermExpert (1 Month) | $49.99 | per month |
| VisualDx Elite Monthly | $49.99 | per month |
| Add DermExpert (1 Year) | $99.99 | per year |
| Complete (1 Year) | $149.99 | per year |
| VisualDx Core Annual | $249.99 | per year |
| VisualDx Elite Annual | $299.99 | per year |
| Complete+DermExpert (1 Year) | $499.99 | per year |
| Complete (1 yr) | $399.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📸 Excellent clinical images and kodachromes
- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
- 🎓 Comprehensive differential diagnosis tool
- 📚 Detailed disease summaries and treatment information
- 🌍 Inclusive representation of skin of color

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription cost
- ❌ Difficult subscription cancellation process
- 🐛 App crashes and performance issues
- 📱 Quiz feature laggy and unreliable
- 😤 Poor customer service responsiveness

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when using quiz feature
- CME credit claiming functionality fails
- Subscription cancellation not processed
- Renewal charges despite cancellation requests
- Quiz unable to load properly

**Requested features**

- Make app free again (previously free)
- Simplify subscription cancellation in-app
- Improve quiz functionality for mobile
- Add quiz feature to desktop version
- Expand patient information handouts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merck Manual Professional free?

Merck Manual Professional is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VisualDx free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Merck Manual Professional or VisualDx?

Merck Manual Professional is rated higher. Merck Manual Professional averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while VisualDx averages 4.4 from 186 ratings.

### Do Merck Manual Professional or VisualDx have ads?

Neither Merck Manual Professional nor VisualDx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merck Manual Professional or VisualDx?

Merck Manual Professional ships an update every 4 months, and VisualDx fortnightly. Most recently, Merck Manual Professional was updated on November 6, 2026 and VisualDx on November 6, 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.*