# VisualDx vs Access

VisualDx and Access both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of VisualDx's written reviews are positive against 8% of Access's. VisualDx also leads on chart position (#26 vs unranked) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Access's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VisualDx sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month. Access asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for VisualDx against 4.3 for Access. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 186 and 132 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of VisualDx's written reviews are positive against 8% of Access's.

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, Access monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VisualDx | Access |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visualdx/id348177521/reviews)** | [4.3 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-by-mcgraw-hill/id1628840396/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **186** | 132 |
| Positive reviews | **84.3% of reviews** | 8.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#26** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 26 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Logical Images](https://appshunter.io/developer/348177524) | [McGraw-Hill](https://appshunter.io/developer/325792150) |

## What reviewers say

### VisualDx

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

**Currently charting:** #26 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 (11)**

| 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 |
| Add DermExpert (1 yr) | $99.99 | one-time |
| 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


### Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-by-mcgraw-hill/id1628840396)

Access medical learning resources like videos, podcasts, and textbooks on the go. Search for specific topics, save content to collections, and personalize your dashboard. Offline viewing and specialty-specific content are available for subscribed institutional users.

**Highlights:** Search diverse medical resources, Save and organize content, Refine by content type, Offline viewing, Personalized dashboard, Specialty-specific content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for quick reads
- 👍 Good for reading on the go
- 👍 Allows downloading chapters
- 👍 Can favorite books/chapters/figures
- 👍 Great idea for an app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Infinite login loop
- 🐛 App broken or glitched
- 🐛 Unable to access content
- 🐛 Chapters missing (appendix, intro)
- 🐛 Cannot search all chapters

**Reported bugs**

- Infinite login loop
- App won't log in
- App broken or glitched
- Unable to access content
- Appendix and introduction absent

**Requested features**

- Option to search all chapters at once
- Improve text-to-speech functionality
- Allow text-to-speech to continue when app is in background
- Remember last read position
- Sync favorites across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VisualDx free?

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

### Is Access free?

Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VisualDx or Access?

VisualDx is rated higher. VisualDx averages 4.4 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while Access averages 4.3 from 132 ratings.

### Do VisualDx or Access have ads?

Neither VisualDx nor Access shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VisualDx or Access?

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, and Access monthly. Most recently, VisualDx was updated on October 16, 2026 and Access on October 17, 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.*