# VisualDx vs Read by QxMD

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Read by QxMD at none against VisualDx's 10. Read by QxMD also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (6K vs 186). VisualDx's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VisualDx sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month. Read by QxMD asks for nothing beyond the download.

Read by QxMD holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read by QxMD has 6K ratings behind it against 186, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of VisualDx's written reviews are positive against 89% of Read by QxMD's.

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, Read by QxMD monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VisualDx | Read by QxMD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visualdx/id348177521/reviews) | **[4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 186 | **6K** |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | **89.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 205 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Logical Images](https://appshunter.io/developer/348177524) | [WebMD](https://appshunter.io/developer/295076332) |

## What reviewers say

### VisualDx

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

**Currently charting:** #21 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 (10)**

| 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 |
| 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


### Read by QxMD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839)

Access and organize the latest medical research and topic reviews in a personalized digital journal. Stay updated with new scientific findings and easily retrieve full-text PDFs from PubMed and other sources.

**Highlights:** Personalized digital medical journal, Access latest medical research, Read topic reviews, Search PubMed, Full-text PDF access, Organize article collection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient access to latest research
- 👍 Customizable journal and keyword tracking
- 🔒 Institutional access integration
- 💡 Convenient PDF downloads
- 👍 Helpful for staying up-to-date

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Institutional access issues
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 📤 Difficulty sharing articles

**Reported bugs**

- Login and authentication problems
- Inconsistent app performance after updates
- Inability to access full-text articles
- Syncing issues between devices
- Unreliable article refresh functionality

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to annotate and highlight PDFs
- Improved article organization and collections
- Integration with reference managers (e.g. Zotero, Mendeley)
- Enhanced search and filtering capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VisualDx free?

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

### Is Read by QxMD free?

Read by QxMD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VisualDx or Read by QxMD?

Read by QxMD is rated higher. VisualDx averages 4.4 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while Read by QxMD averages 4.8 from 6K ratings.

### Do VisualDx or Read by QxMD have ads?

Read by QxMD shows ads; VisualDx does not.

### Which is updated more often, VisualDx or Read by QxMD?

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, and Read by QxMD monthly. Most recently, VisualDx was updated on November 6, 2026 and Read by QxMD on November 6, 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.*