VisualDx vs Bates' Pocket Guide
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/
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | VisualDx | Bates' Pocket Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (186 ratings) | 4.8 (300 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews — better | 40.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 186 | 300 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #14 — better | #198 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 226 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Logical Images | Unbound Medicine, Inc. |
Customer experience
VisualDx
Bates' Pocket Guide
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
Bates' Pocket Guide
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
Questions
Is VisualDx free?
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Which has better reviews, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Do VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Which is updated more often, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Which is more popular, VisualDx or Bates' Pocket Guide?
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