VisualDx vs ClinicalKey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VisualDx
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.
- Build custom differentials
- Engage patients with visual aids
- Improve diagnostic accuracy
- Access therapy and test options
- Recognize infectious diseases
- Earn CME credits
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VisualDx is a visual reference tool for medical professionals that leverages AI technology and a comprehensive image atlas to support faster, more confident decisions, fewer unnecessary referrals and testing, and higher patient engagement and satisfaction. With VisualDx, clinicians can: • Build dynamic differentials that evolve as you think. • Use guided support to surface clinically relevant results. • Compare diagnoses to improve decisions for your patients. • Use our AI to take a picture of your patient’s skin condition to better understand morphology and possibilities. • Engage with patients by sharing pictures of skin that reflect their disease presentation. • Access therapy and testing recommendations across over 3,500 conditions. • Quickly recognize infectious diseases and travel-related illnesses with our public health resources. • Test your diagnostic skills with our image challenges and educational resources. • Earn 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for internet point of care activity with every search. See why this award-winning clinical decision support system is being used in more than 2,300 hospitals, clinics, and medical schools by physicians, nurses, students, PAs, NPs, and other healthcare professionals worldwide. VisualDx requires a subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.visualdx.com/legal/acceptable-use-policy-notice Privacy Policy: https://www.visualdx.com/legal/privacy-policy/
ClinicalKey
This app provides medical professionals with instant access to a vast library of clinical knowledge, including synoptic content and in-depth reference materials. It helps users stay updated on medical advancements, confirm diagnoses, and advance their research skills, all while offering CME/MOC/CE credits.
- Access to 30+ medical specialties
- Synoptic content for quick answers
- Full-text reference books and journals
- Mobile-optimized medical calculators
- Earn CME/MOC/CE credits
- Intuitive search functionality
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INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. Access the latest advances in clinical knowledge anytime, anywhere with ClinicalKey®- the essential resource for medical professionals. ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to provide clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter most. With ClinicalKey, you can: • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research Please note: To access our extensive content library, ensure you have a subscription to ClinicalKey from your organization. To get started: 1. Download the free ClinicalKey app for iOS on your iPad® or iPhone®. 2. Follow the prompts to connect to your organization’s account.The app will ask questions to get you to the right content. 3. Choose the method of access that is right for you: 4. Select Access via Network if you need a quick answer and your device is connected to your organization's network. 5. Select Access via Institution for other ways to connect. 6. Once you have gained access, create or sign- in to your Elsevier ClinicalKey user account to save favorites and earn CME/MOC/CE/MOC/CE. ClinicalKey® Because you want to find a better way to help your patients ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to give clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter. With the ClinicalKey, clinicians will be able to: • Enhance patient care with trusted resources and deep insights across 30+ specialties • Combine efficiency and confidence in your practice with access to quick answers and information that is continuously updated • Excel in your field by building foundational knowledge and keeping up with the latest trends through full-text reference books and journals, while earning free CME/MOC/CE credit • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research ClinicalKey App for iOS Features: • Trusted Comprehensive content covering more than 30 medical and surgical specialties • Easy-to-scan, clinically focused medical topic synopses • Intuitive search with auto-suggest/ • Easy search with auto-completion • Direct navigation to your favorite books and journals • Mobile-optimized medical calculators • Access to full-text books, full-text journals, guidelines, multimedia and more • Access via Institutional IP; individuals will not be able to earn CME/MOC/CE, save, or share content when using IP authentication. Please register for remote access via your institutional web version of ClinicalKey. ClinicalKey Registrants (non-IP) customers will enjoy: • Opportunity to earn CME and fulfill MOC requirements with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) • Ability to favorite and save content • Option to print and email topics, videos or graphics • Earn and track free CME/MOC/CE credit Ability to favorite and save content Print and email topics, videos or graphics to patients and colleagues iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: VisualDx at 84% against ClinicalKey's 9%. VisualDx also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). ClinicalKey's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, 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
Both are free to download. VisualDx sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month. ClinicalKey asks for nothing beyond the download.
VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, ClinicalKey every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VisualDx | ClinicalKey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (186 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews — better | 8.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 186 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #12 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 226 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Logical Images | Elsevier Inc. |
Customer experience
VisualDx
ClinicalKey
User reviews
VisualDx
From 186 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📸 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
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription cost
- ❌ Difficult subscription cancellation process
- 🐛 App crashes and performance issues
- 📱 Quiz feature laggy and unreliable
- 😤 Poor customer service responsiveness
ClinicalKey
From App Store reviewsWhat we love
- 📚 High-quality, evidence-based clinical content
- 🎯 Intuitive interface and quick reference format
- 🔍 Similar functionality to website version
- 👍 Browse feature restoration appreciated by users
Room to improve
- 🔓 Constant forced logout issues
- 🔐 Institutional login authentication failures
- ⏳ App freezes and perpetual loading screens
- 🚫 Missing textbook access in app vs website
- 📵 Frequent crashes and force closures
Bugs and requests
VisualDx
Reported bugs
6 issues- 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
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- Account access issues after payment
Requested features
6 requests- 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
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- Better quiz image clarity and context
ClinicalKey
Reported bugs
14 issues- App stuck on loading screen after initial login
- Forced logout when closing or minimizing app
- Institutional login not working despite web access
- App crashes during search queries
- OpenAthens authentication failures
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- Network change warnings appearing incorrectly
- Search results returning unrelated content
- Textbook search not finding available books
- App won't load after recent updates
- Blank search results for valid queries
- Scrolling in table of contents sidebar not functioning
- Landscape orientation not supported
- App doesn't remember page position when reopened
- Restricted access to books after updates
Requested features
10 requests- PDF download capability within the app
- Favorite/bookmark textbooks and articles
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Find-on-page text search function
- Automatic session persistence and page memory
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- Text size and screen color customization
- Fingerprint/passcode login option
- Browse feature with category filtering
- Offline access to downloaded materials
- Feature parity with website version
In-app purchases
VisualDx
- Complete (1 Month)1 Month trial$39.991 Month
- VisualDx Core Monthly7 Days trial$39.991 Month
- Complete+DermExpert (1 Month)1 Month trial$49.991 Month
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- VisualDx Elite Monthly7 Days trial$49.991 Month
- Add DermExpert (1 Year)$99.991 Year
- Complete (1 Year)1 Month trial$149.991 Year
- VisualDx Core Annual7 Days trial$249.991 Year
- VisualDx Elite Annual7 Days trial$299.991 Year
- Complete+DermExpert (1 Year)1 Month trial$499.991 Year
- Add DermExpert (1 yr)$99.99
- Complete (1 yr)$399.99
ClinicalKey
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VisualDx free?
Is ClinicalKey free?
Do VisualDx or ClinicalKey have ads?
Which is updated more often, VisualDx or ClinicalKey?
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