Comparison

VisualDx vs Bates' Pocket Guide

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Build custom differentials
  • Engage patients with visual aids
  • Improve diagnostic accuracy
  • Access therapy and test options
  • Recognize infectious diseases
  • Earn CME credits
Currently charting
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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/

About

Bates' Pocket Guide

This app provides essential information for obtaining health histories and conducting physical exams. It features step-by-step techniques, updated images, and differential diagnoses for quick and accurate interpretation of findings. Ideal for students and professionals needing a fast reference.

Highlights
  • Over 130 detailed topics
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Updated photographs and illustrations
  • Two-column layout
  • New Algorithms for symptom approaches
  • Differential diagnoses
  • Highlighting and note-taking
  • Advanced search
Features
Currently charting
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*Featuring the latest content from the latest edition* ABOUT THE BATES' GUIDE: The Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking contains the critical information needed to obtain a meaningful health history, conduct a thorough physical exam, and interpret the findings quickly and accurately. Locate answers fast and review step-by-step techniques and possible findings using the distinctive two-column format with updated images. Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking is the ideal quick-reference resource for today’s medical, PA, pharmacy, and nursing students. FEATURES: • Over 130 detailed topics with step-by-step instructions • Updated photographs, illustrations, and references reinforce key content based on the latest evidence-based information • Two-column layout optimized for smartphones and tablets • New Algorithms provide helpful starting approaches for patients with common presenting symptoms. • Differential diagnoses for common, normal, and abnormal findings • Highlight and take notes within any entry • Advanced Search helps find topics quickly • “Favorites” for bookmarking important entries Authors: Lynn S. Bickley MD, FACP, Peter G. Szilagyi MD, MPH, Richard M. Hoffman MD, MPH, FACP, Rainier P. Soriano MD Publisher: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

Screenshots

VisualDx4 screens
Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VisualDx at 84% against Bates' Pocket Guide's 41%. VisualDx also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 14 months) and chart position (#14 vs #198). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. VisualDx sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per month and Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 186 and 300 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of VisualDx's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
VisualDx versus Bates' Pocket Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisualDxBates' Pocket Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (186 ratings)4.8 (300 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.3% of reviews — better40.9% of reviews
Number of ratings186300 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#14 — better#198
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size226 MB10 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperLogical ImagesUnbound Medicine, Inc.

Customer experience

VisualDx

All ratings186 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral4.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive84.3%
Neutral1.0%
Negative14.7%

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings300 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

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
Show 1 more
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Better quiz image clarity and context

Bates' Pocket Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

VisualDx

Subscriptions9
  • 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
Show 6 more
  • 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
One-time2
  • Add DermExpert (1 yr)$99.99
  • Complete (1 yr)$399.99
1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

One-time1
  • Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99

Questions

Is VisualDx free?
VisualDx is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. VisualDx averages 4.4 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 from 300 ratings.
Do VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Neither VisualDx nor Bates' Pocket Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, and Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Most recently, VisualDx was updated on September 23, 2026 and Bates' Pocket Guide on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
VisualDx currently peaks at #14 in the App Store charts, and Bates' Pocket Guide at #198. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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