Comparison

VisualDx vs Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

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

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

Provides clinicians with concise, evidence-based treatment guidance for infectious diseases. Features interactive tools like spectra charts, drug interaction checkers, and dosing calculators to support rapid decision-making in fast-paced medical settings.

Highlights
  • Clinically actionable answers
  • Institutionally diverse editorial team
  • Constant updates
  • Interactive antibacterial spectra chart
  • Drug-drug interaction checker
  • Trustworthy dosing calculators
Features
Currently charting
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Clinically Actionable, Concise Answers Get exactly what you need to make the best decision in a fast-paced setting. Institutionally Diverse Editorial Team by Design Not every organization has the same patient population, budget, or processes. We bring perspectives from many medical institutions. Constant Updates New recommendations are added quickly by our nine-member editorial team. ‘Why Didn’t I Think of That’ Tools An interactive antibacterial spectra chart, drug-drug interactions, and trustworthy calculators to define accurate dosing. Praise from Providers “Indispensable—If you're going to prescribe you must have a way to remain current.” “One of the most helpful tools in medicine!” “I use this app every day I work” Who Needs This App Since 1969, Sanford Guide has been the leading clinical treatment guide for infectious diseases. Popular with physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians, Sanford Guide provides convenient, concise, and reliable medical information. Coverage includes clinical syndromes (organized by anatomic system/site of infection), pathogens (bacterial, fungal, mycobacterial, parasitic and viral), anti-infective agents (dosing, adverse effects, activity, pharmacology, interactions), expanded HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis information, specialized dosing tables and tools, calculators, and preventative therapy, all evidence-based and extensively referenced. Sanford Guide Antimicrobial Therapy is currently written in the English language. Auto-renewing subscriptions: -An in-app subscription is $39.99 for one year. (Subscription price varies by country) -Payment will be charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. -Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current subscription period. -Your Apple ID will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. -Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. -No cancellation of a current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. -Subscriptions are subject to our Terms of Use, which are available at: https://www.sanfordguide.com/about/legal/terms-of-use/. -Our privacy policy can be viewed at: https://www.sanfordguide.com/about/legal/privacy-policy/ Disclaimer: The “Sanford Guide Antimicrobial Therapy” app is intended for use by health care professionals and trainees only, and not by the general public. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content of this app. However, current full prescribing information available in the package insert for each drug should be consulted before prescribing any product. The editors and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of our print and digital content, and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the currency, accuracy, or completeness of the contents of this publication. The information in this app is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Application of this information in a particular situation remains solely the professional responsibility of the health care provider.

Screenshots

VisualDx4 screens
Sanford Guide Antimicrobial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sanford Guide Antimicrobial at 4.8 against VisualDx's 4.4. Sanford Guide Antimicrobial also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 186). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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 Sanford Guide Antimicrobial sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sanford Guide Antimicrobial has 1.9K ratings behind it against 186, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 84% and 85% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, Sanford Guide Antimicrobial every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
VisualDx versus Sanford Guide Antimicrobial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisualDxSanford Guide Antimicrobial
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (186 ratings)4.8 (1.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.3% of reviews84.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1861.9K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
Best chart rank#11#7 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size226 MB44 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperLogical ImagesAntimicrobial Therapy, Inc.

Customer experience

VisualDx

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

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

All ratings1,876 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews196 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral3.6%
Negative11.7%

User reviews

VisualDx

From 186 App Store ratings

What 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

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Quick access to information
  • 💡 Helpful charts and tables
  • 🔍 Comprehensive coverage of infections and treatments
  • 📚 Up-to-date content and frequent updates

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
  • ⏱️ Slow search function
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Login issues and subscription verification problems

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

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App freezing or closing unexpectedly
  • Login and subscription verification problems
  • Corrupted passwords and inability to reset

Requested features

3 requests
  • Side-by-side antibiotic susceptibility comparison
  • Offline access to content
  • Improved navigation and UI

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
3 purchases

Sanford Guide Antimicrobial

Subscriptions3
  • U.S. Vaccine Guidelines7 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Sanford Guide7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Sanford Guide All Access7 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is VisualDx free?
VisualDx is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sanford Guide Antimicrobial free?
Sanford Guide Antimicrobial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VisualDx or Sanford Guide Antimicrobial?
Sanford Guide Antimicrobial is rated higher. VisualDx averages 4.4 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while Sanford Guide Antimicrobial averages 4.8 from 1.9K ratings.
Do VisualDx or Sanford Guide Antimicrobial have ads?
Neither VisualDx nor Sanford Guide Antimicrobial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VisualDx or Sanford Guide Antimicrobial?
VisualDx ships an update fortnightly, and Sanford Guide Antimicrobial every 3 weeks. Most recently, VisualDx was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sanford Guide Antimicrobial on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, VisualDx or Sanford Guide Antimicrobial?
VisualDx currently peaks at #11 in the App Store charts, and Sanford Guide Antimicrobial at #7. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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