# Pocket Pharmacist vs Respiratory Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Pharmacist at 4.7 against Respiratory Notes's 4.0. Pocket Pharmacist also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.9K vs 4). Respiratory Notes's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Pharmacist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Respiratory Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $39.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Pharmacist holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Pharmacist has 3.9K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pocket Pharmacist ships an update every 2 months, Respiratory Notes every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Pharmacist | Respiratory Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-pharmacist/id387365379/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/respiratory-notes/id6569241898/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.9K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 77.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#145** | — |
| Size | 44 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Danike, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387365382) | [Skyscape Medpresso Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/818609416) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket Pharmacist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-pharmacist/id387365379)

**Currently charting:** #145 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

Access comprehensive drug information curated by pharmacists, check for drug interactions, and test your knowledge with quizzes. Organize your medications and impress your medical team with neat printouts.

**Highlights:** Pharmacist-curated drug summaries, Unbiased drug information, Fast drug search (offline), Drug interaction checker, Medication quizzes, Medication organizer, Printable medication summaries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Pharmacist Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Pocket Pharmacist Yearly | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient for keeping track of medications
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 💡 Helpful for healthcare professionals
- 🔍 Comprehensive drug information
- ⭐️ Excellent app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model frustrates existing users
- 🇨🇦 Limited coverage for non-US drugs
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription screen appears unexpectedly
- Unable to access or delete personal information
- Interaction checker not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add medication reminders
- Include over-the-counter medications
- Improve sync functionality between devices
- Provide more customization options


### Respiratory Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/respiratory-notes/id6569241898)

This app provides a comprehensive, procedure-based reference for respiratory therapy information. It includes illustrations, forms, and algorithms to aid in study and practice, with content organized around protocols and new pulmonary disease tabs. An in-app purchase unlocks all content, and a subscription offers continuous updates.

**Highlights:** Procedure-based format, Supporting illustrations and tables, Fill-in-the-blank forms, Algorithms based on AARC Guidelines, SmartSearch technology, Offline content access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Respiratory Notes | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket Pharmacist free?

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

### Is Respiratory Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocket Pharmacist or Respiratory Notes?

Pocket Pharmacist is rated higher. Pocket Pharmacist averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while Respiratory Notes averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Pocket Pharmacist or Respiratory Notes have ads?

Respiratory Notes shows ads; Pocket Pharmacist does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Pharmacist or Respiratory Notes?

Pocket Pharmacist ships an update every 2 months, and Respiratory Notes every 6 months. Most recently, Pocket Pharmacist was updated on September 23, 2026 and Respiratory Notes on August 19, 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.*