# AO Surgery Reference vs Bel

The clearest difference is rating: Bel at 5.0 against AO Surgery Reference's 4.4. Bel also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Bel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 6 respectively.

AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, Bel every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AO Surgery Reference | Bel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ao-surgery-reference/id403961165/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bel-red-oms/id1576150266/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 85.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AO Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/399757056) | [UAppme LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786912055) |

## 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


### Bel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bel-red-oms/id1576150266)

This app guides patients through pre- and post-operative care. It helps you understand the necessary steps for a successful surgery and recovery.

**Highlights:** Pre-operative guidance, Post-operative instructions, Surgery success tips, Recovery process understanding

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Bel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AO Surgery Reference or Bel?

Bel is rated higher. AO Surgery Reference averages 4.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Bel averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do AO Surgery Reference or Bel have ads?

Neither AO Surgery Reference nor Bel shows ads.

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

AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, and Bel every 6 weeks. Most recently, AO Surgery Reference was updated on October 15, 2026 and Bel on October 5, 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.*