Comparison

Physical Exam Essentials vs ECG Atlas

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Physical Exam Essentials

This app provides a quick overview of patient physical exams, serving as a reference for medical students and professionals. It helps users remember exam techniques, view illustrations, and understand the significance of findings. It's designed for quick reviews of procedures across various medical categories.

Highlights
  • Quick overview of patient physical exams
  • Illustrations of exam maneuvers
  • Clinical Correlates for findings
  • Descriptions of special tests
  • Guide for describing findings
  • 14 different examination categories
Features
Read full description

Learn the physical examination step by step, from the health history to the neurologic exam. Physical Exam Essentials is a study aid for nursing, medical and physician assistant students, and for anyone reviewing the exam before an OSCE or a skills check. Each section walks through what to inspect, palpate, percuss and auscultate, in order, with photographs of the maneuvers. It was written by a physician. PRACTICE FOR YOUR OSCE Every section has an OSCE station: the steps an examiner marks, in order, from the opening (hand hygiene, introduction, consent, chaperone) through the examination to the closing and what you would do to complete it. Practice it in Recall: each step stays hidden; say it out loud, reveal it, and mark whether you had it, against a station timer. At the end you see your score, your time and the steps you missed, then present your findings. Or use Checklist to tick off each step as you examine a partner. You can also practice a section's full text, or one topic at a time. 14 SECTIONS The Health History, The General Survey, Skin and Nails, HEENT and Neck, Thorax and Lungs, Breast and Axillae, Cardiovascular, Peripheral Vascular, Abdominal, Male Genitalia, Anus, Rectum and Prostate, Female Genitalia, Anus and Rectum, Mental Status, Cranial Nerves, and the Neurologic Exam. WHAT'S INSIDE - 61 topics and 68 photographs and diagrams - Clinical Correlates: what a finding can mean, set apart from the steps - Special Tests that go beyond a routine exam - Presentation Tips for describing your findings out loud - Further reading at the end of every section, linking to MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) and Stanford Medicine 25 - An OSCE station for every section, with a timer and your last score kept - Search across every section, including inside the text - Continue reading where you left off, plus Favorites and Recently Opened - iPhone and iPad, Dark Mode, and text that grows with your text size setting NEW IN THIS VERSION The app has been rebuilt from the ground up. The text is easier to read at any size, the photographs open full screen, and corrections now reach you without waiting for an App Store update. Spot something wrong? Report a problem from the end of any section; we read every report. PRIVACY No account, no ads, no tracking. Your favorites stay on your device. We collect anonymous usage to improve the app; the words you search for are never sent. Details are in the app under More > Privacy. A STUDY AID Physical Exam Essentials is for learning and review. It is not a clinical reference, not medical advice, and not a basis for any decision about a patient. Learn the examination from your instructors and a current textbook, and practice it under supervision.

About

ECG Atlas

Train your ECG interpretation skills with a large collection of real-life ECGs. This app provides short descriptions of diagnoses and reference links for further learning. It's a valuable pocket resource for healthcare professionals.

Highlights
  • Large collection of real-life ECGs
  • Short descriptions of diagnoses
  • Reference links for further information
  • Pocket-sized learning resource
  • ECG interpretation skill training
Features
Read full description

Health care professionals often find it difficult to interpret ECGs. Can you diagnose WPW or Torsades? Get the ECG Atlas now and train your ECG skills! Real-life ECGs in your pocket - complete with short descriptions of diagnoses, and reference links for further information. 5-star review: "A handy little app, a good resource." (Australian App Store) If you have any comments or suggestions, please use the contact form on our website. Read the disclaimer before use. All information in this application is for educational purposes only.

Screenshots

Physical Exam Essentials4 screens
ECG Atlas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ECG Atlas at $0.99 against Physical Exam Essentials's $2.99. On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Physical Exam Essentials costs $2.99 and ECG Atlas $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Physical Exam Essentials ships an update every 10 months, ECG Atlas every 8 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Physical Exam Essentials versus ECG Atlas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhysical Exam EssentialsECG Atlas
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.1% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB174 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperHipposoft, LLCMedicon Apps

Customer experience

Physical Exam Essentials

All ratings10 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral21.5%
Negative34.4%

ECG Atlas

Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Physical Exam Essentials

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App no longer works after iOS update
  • Doesn't work
  • Download issue
  • Incorrect abdominal quadrants labelling
  • Advertisements on a PAID app
Show 2 more
  • New version includes advertisements
  • Disclaimer popping up constantly

Requested features

18 requests
  • MSK section
  • Ability to change font size
  • Update app overall
  • Add musculoskeletal system
  • Add MSK section with specific tests
Show 13 more
  • Improve interface design
  • Optimize for newer iOS versions
  • Add more detail/explanations
  • Add trial/demo option
  • Add larger font option
  • Add retina artwork
  • Add iPhone 6/6 Plus support
  • Add musculoskeletal exam
  • Add tabs for inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
  • Explain non-normal findings
  • Explain techniques for performing exams
  • Add more pictures
  • Add dark mode option

ECG Atlas

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Physical Exam Essentials

No in-app purchases

None

ECG Atlas

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Physical Exam Essentials free?
Physical Exam Essentials costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ECG Atlas free?
ECG Atlas costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Physical Exam Essentials or ECG Atlas have ads?
Neither Physical Exam Essentials nor ECG Atlas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Physical Exam Essentials or ECG Atlas?
Physical Exam Essentials ships an update every 10 months, and ECG Atlas every 8 months. Most recently, Physical Exam Essentials was updated on November 1, 2026 and ECG Atlas on November 1, 2026.

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