Comparison

Physical Exam Essentials vs QuickEM

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

QuickEM

This emergency medicine reference app provides clinicians with instant access to critical information, including differentials, treatments, and validated medical calculators. It's designed for rapid lookup of ED-specific care, organized by chief complaints and clinical categories, and works completely offline.

Highlights
  • 80+ chief complaint topics
  • 90+ medical calculators
  • Offline access
  • No login or ads
  • Adult and pediatric coverage
  • Evidence-based content
  • Customizable favorites
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Essential Emergency Medicine Reference Trusted by Clinicians QuickEM is the comprehensive bedside companion designed by emergency physicians for emergency physicians. Whether you're a medical student on your first ED rotation or an attending managing a busy department, QuickEM delivers the critical information you need—instantly. Built for Real Emergency Medicine • Over 80 chief complaint topics with differentials, history, tests, and treatments focused on ED-specific care • Over 90 validated medical calculators / tools • No login required • Zero fluff—only ED-relevant information Organized by How You Think • Chief complaints structured by presentation • Calculators grouped by clinical category • Smart search finds tools • Customizable favorites list for your go-to references Trusted by Every Level • Medical Students: Essential differentials and workup basics • Residents: Quick access to decision rules and scoring systems • Attendings: Rapid reference for less common presentations and 2nd brain refreshers Key Features: • Complete offline access—works without internet • No ads, no subscriptions, no account required • Covers adult and pediatric emergency medicine • Includes trauma protocols and resuscitation guides • Evidence-based content with source citations • Professional medical illustrations and ECG examples Content Highlights: • Cardiovascular: HEART Score, CHADS2-VASc, Wells Criteria • Neurological: NIHSS, Canadian Head CT Rules, HINTS Exam • Trauma: NEXUS, Canadian C-Spine, PECARN • Pediatrics: PEDS Vitals, Croup Score, Bronchiolitis • Toxicology: Rumack-Matthew, CIWA-Ar, Anion Gap • And more! Developed by practicing emergency physicians who understand what you need at 3 AM with multiple critical patients. QuickEM is designed to be the fastest way to look up the info you need. This app is designed exclusively for medical professionals and students. Not intended for patient or public use.

Screenshots

Physical Exam Essentials4 screens
QuickEM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: QuickEM at 91% against Physical Exam Essentials's 44%. QuickEM also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.7) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Physical Exam Essentials's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($2.99 vs $9.99). On ratings volume, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Physical Exam Essentials costs $2.99 and QuickEM $9.99 up front. QuickEM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Physical Exam Essentials asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

QuickEM holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Physical Exam Essentials's written reviews are positive against 91% of QuickEM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Physical Exam Essentials ships an update every 10 months, QuickEM every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Physical Exam Essentials versus QuickEM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhysical Exam EssentialsQuickEM
Price$2.99 — better$9.99
Rating2.7 (10 ratings)4.6 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.1% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1010
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#53 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB78 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperHipposoft, LLCDirkes Medical, PLLC

Customer experience

Physical Exam Essentials

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

QuickEM

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative0.0%

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

QuickEM

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Physical Exam Essentials

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

QuickEM

One-time1
  • Premium Features$2.99

Questions

Is Physical Exam Essentials free?
Physical Exam Essentials costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is QuickEM free?
QuickEM costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Physical Exam Essentials or QuickEM?
QuickEM is rated higher. Physical Exam Essentials averages 2.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while QuickEM averages 4.6 from 10 ratings.
Do Physical Exam Essentials or QuickEM have ads?
Neither Physical Exam Essentials nor QuickEM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Physical Exam Essentials or QuickEM?
Physical Exam Essentials ships an update every 10 months, and QuickEM every 2 months. Most recently, Physical Exam Essentials was updated on October 16, 2026 and QuickEM on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons