Comparison

Anesthesia Central vs Vargo Anesthesia Mega App

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

Head to head
About

Anesthesia Central

This app provides anesthesiologists and critical care specialists with essential information for patient care before, during, and after surgery. It includes disease, drug, test, and procedure details, along with access to the PubMed database for journal articles.

Highlights
  • Disease, drug, test, and procedure information
  • Access to PubMed database
  • MGH Clinical Anesthesia Procedures
  • Davis's Drug Guide
  • Pocket ICU Management
  • Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests
  • Integrated calculators
Features
Read full description

** The All-In-One Mobile and Web Solution for Anesthesiology ** ABOUT ANESTHESIA CENTRAL Anesthesia Central is a must-have resource for every anesthesiologist, critical care specialist, nurse anesthetist, and trainee. Consult the automatically updating collection of disease, drug, test, and procedure information for treating patients before, during, and after surgery. Download to your mobile device and use the quick-read format to find answers fast or search for journal articles and citations in the full PubMed database – anytime, anywhere. Five comprehensive resources included with Anesthesia Central. MGH CLINICAL ANESTHESIA PROCEDURES Includes proven guidelines for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthesia care, developed by the renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. DAVIS’S DRUG GUIDE Refer to need-to-know information on dosing, contraindications, drug interactions, and patient education for more than 5,000 medications. POCKET ICU MANAGEMENT Focuses on conditions found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and covers a range of topics from life-threatening disorders to presenting conditions. POCKET GUIDE TO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Pocket Guide to Diagnostics Tests provides evidence-based recommendations on the selection and interpretation of over 450 laboratory, imaging, and microbiology tests. Prime PubMed Search Connect to the full MEDLINE/PubMed database. Stay up to date with your favorite medical journals, perform powerful searches, link directly to the publisher’s full text, and share articles via email or social media. Visually explore the literature using Grapherence®, a unique way to find related and relevant articles. FEATURES • Receive 1-year of drug updates • Download any new editions of included resources free for 1-year • Make quick calculations with integrated calculators • Create custom notes and highlights within entries • Consult trusted, up-to-date procedure, drug, and test information • Jump quickly between resources using Cross Links • Access to PubMed database through Prime • Use the advanced search capabilities to find topics fast • Bookmark important entries with “Favorites” • Get access to Anesthesia Central website for 1-year DRUG AND CONTENT UPDATES • After initial Anesthesia Central purchase you will receive updates for one year • After one year, you can purchase updates for an additional year, at the discounted rate of $99.99. If you do not choose to purchase, you can continue to use the product but will not receive updates. • This app will automatically renew annually at the current renewal rate ($99.99) and charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase, unless auto-renew is turned off 24 hours prior to the conclusion of the one-year subscription period. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Clinical Anesthesia Procedures of the Massachusetts General Hospital: Senior Editor: Wilton C. Levine, MD Associate Editors: Rae M. Allain, MD; Theodore A. Alston, MD, PhD; Peter F. Dunn, MD; Jean Kwo, MD; Carl E. Rosow, MD, PhD Publisher: Lippincott Willams & Wilkins Pocket ICU Management: Authors: Michael H. Wall, MD, FCCM; Pamela R. Roberts, MD, FCCM; J. Christopher Farmer, MD, FCCM Publisher: PocketMedicine.com Davis's Drug Guide: Authors: April Hazard Vallerand, PhD, RN, FAAN; Cynthia A. Sanoski, BS, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS Publisher: F.A. Davis Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests: Editors: Diana Nicoll, MD, PhD, MPA; Chuanyi Mark Lu, MD; Michael Pignone, MD, MPH; Stephen J. McPhee, MD Publisher: McGraw-Hill Medical Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

About

Vargo Anesthesia Mega App

This comprehensive medical app consolidates 16 specialized tools for anesthesia professionals. It provides quick access to information on patient care in various settings, including obstetrics, pediatrics, trauma, and critical care. Features include drug information, crisis management algorithms, case tips, and calculations.

Highlights
  • Obstetric, pediatric, trauma, surgical, critical care, emergency, and anesthesia settings
  • Malignant Hyperthermia information
  • Medical calculations (ABL/EBV, BMI, MAP, etc.)
  • Anesthesia crisis management algorithms
  • Extensive anesthesia case tips with search
  • Pharmacology information for over 200 drugs/drips
  • Pediatric and OB regional anesthesia guides
Features
Read full description

The Vargo Anesthesia Mega App is a comprehensive, clinician-built platform designed to support anesthesia providers in both preoperative preparation and real-time clinical decision-making. Developed and refined over more than 15 years, the app integrates essential anesthesia, critical care, and perioperative content into one unified system. Built for efficiency and clarity, the Mega App allows providers to quickly access high-value clinical information—whether preparing for a case, reviewing complex physiology, or managing time-sensitive situations in the operating room. The Vargo Anesthesia Mega App brings together a wide range of core anesthesia resources, including: Weight-Based Medication Dosing and Equipment Tables Adult and pediatric dosing and equipment references designed for accuracy across a wide range of patient sizes Cheat Sheets High-yield summaries for rapid review of key anesthesia and critical care concepts Pediatrics Focused pediatric anesthesia guidance and considerations Case Tips Extensive, case-based insights across a broad range of surgical procedures Regional Nerve Blocks & OB Regional Practical guidance for regional anesthesia techniques, including obstetric applications Drugs and Drips Detailed pharmacology with dosing, mechanisms, and clinical application Coagulopathies & Blood Management (TEG/ROTEM) Focused content for complex perioperative and critical care scenarios CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) Step-by-step guidance from setup through separation from bypass Calculations & Clinical Tools Essential calculations including tidal volume, weight-based dosing, and more Max Local Anesthetic Calculator Quick reference for safe dosing limits Crisis Management Immediate access to critical event management, including: Local Anesthetic Toxicity (LA Max) Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Blood / TEGs / ROTEM Other high-risk intraoperative events The app is structured for rapid navigation and real-time usability: Clear, organized layout for quick access Concise presentation of complex topics Built to support decision-making under pressure - All future updates and additions are included with a one-time purchase. There are no subscriptions or recurring fees. - Designed for every level of the anesthesia care team. ***iCloud must be switched on to save personal notes.*** This application is intended for educational and clinical reference purposes only. It is designed to support—not replace—the independent judgment of qualified healthcare professionals. It does not diagnose, treat, or provide patient-specific medical advice. All information must be verified based on the individual patient and clinical context.

Screenshots

Anesthesia Central4 screens
Vargo Anesthesia Mega App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Anesthesia Central at Free against Vargo Anesthesia Mega App's $99.99. Vargo Anesthesia Mega App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads 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

Anesthesia Central is free to download; Vargo Anesthesia Mega App costs $99.99 up front. Anesthesia Central sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per year. Vargo Anesthesia Mega App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Anesthesia Central against 4.7 for Vargo Anesthesia Mega App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 104 and 177 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Anesthesia Central's written reviews are positive against 85% of Vargo Anesthesia Mega App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Anesthesia Central ships an update every 9 months, Vargo Anesthesia Mega App every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Anesthesia Central versus Vargo Anesthesia Mega App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnesthesia CentralVargo Anesthesia Mega App
PriceFree — better$99.99
Rating4.6 (104 ratings)4.7 (177 ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.4% of reviews84.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings104177 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#13 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB353 MB
Age rating17++17
DeveloperUnbound Medicine, Inc.Vargo Anesthesia Inc

Customer experience

Anesthesia Central

All ratings104 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral4.8%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive74.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative18.6%

Vargo Anesthesia Mega App

All ratings177 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral5.1%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive84.8%
Neutral12.1%
Negative3.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Anesthesia Central

Subscriptions1
  • Anesthesia Central Renewal$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Anesthesia Central$169.99
None

Vargo Anesthesia Mega App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Anesthesia Central free?
Anesthesia Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Vargo Anesthesia Mega App free?
Vargo Anesthesia Mega App costs $99.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Anesthesia Central or Vargo Anesthesia Mega App?
Vargo Anesthesia Mega App is rated higher. Anesthesia Central averages 4.6 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while Vargo Anesthesia Mega App averages 4.7 from 177 ratings.
Do Anesthesia Central or Vargo Anesthesia Mega App have ads?
Neither Anesthesia Central nor Vargo Anesthesia Mega App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Anesthesia Central or Vargo Anesthesia Mega App?
Anesthesia Central ships an update every 9 months, and Vargo Anesthesia Mega App every 2 weeks. Most recently, Anesthesia Central was updated on September 23, 2026 and Vargo Anesthesia Mega App on September 23, 2026.

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