# AO Surgery Reference vs Implant Identifier

The clearest difference is update cadence: Implant Identifier at every 3 weeks against AO Surgery Reference's every 6 months. Implant Identifier also leads on ratings volume (189 vs 14). AO Surgery Reference's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (86% vs 63%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Implant Identifier holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Implant Identifier has 189 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of AO Surgery Reference's written reviews are positive against 63% of Implant Identifier's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, Implant Identifier every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AO Surgery Reference | Implant Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ao-surgery-reference/id403961165/reviews) | **[4.6 (189 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/implant-identifier/id1343366864/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **189** |
| Positive reviews | **85.8% of reviews** | 63.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [AO Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/399757056) | [Devise Health](https://appshunter.io/developer/1006656243) |

## What reviewers say

### AO Surgery Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ao-surgery-reference/id403961165)

Access a comprehensive online repository of surgical knowledge for fracture management. It provides detailed guidance on diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare for numerous fracture types, supported by extensive illustrations and expert review.

**Highlights:** 353 fracture types covered, 172 surgical approaches, 1222 surgical procedures, Over 30,000 illustrations, Feline, canine, and equine fracture care, Powerful search function

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Implant Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/implant-identifier/id1343366864)

Instantly identify orthopedic and spine implants from X-rays using AI. This app helps medical professionals recognize unknown implants, access a community of experts, and contribute to a growing library of implant data. Features include AI identification for hips, a community feed for assistance, and a filterable implant library.

**Highlights:** AI-Identify for Hips, Community Feed for Expert Help, Filterable Implant Library, Submit New Implants, My Implants History, X-ray Recognition

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AO Surgery Reference free?

AO Surgery Reference is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Implant Identifier free?

Implant Identifier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AO Surgery Reference or Implant Identifier?

Implant Identifier is rated higher. AO Surgery Reference averages 4.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Implant Identifier averages 4.6 from 189 ratings.

### Do AO Surgery Reference or Implant Identifier have ads?

Neither AO Surgery Reference nor Implant Identifier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AO Surgery Reference or Implant Identifier?

AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, and Implant Identifier every 3 weeks. Most recently, AO Surgery Reference was updated on September 24, 2026 and Implant Identifier on September 22, 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.*