# Bedside EM vs gistalt

The clearest difference is rating: gistalt at 4.9 against Bedside EM's 4.2. gistalt also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Bedside EM's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 22 months) and ratings volume (60 vs 16). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bedside EM sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. gistalt asks for nothing beyond the download.

gistalt holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Bedside EM's written reviews are positive against 100% of gistalt's.

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, gistalt every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bedside EM | gistalt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bedside-em/id413192645/reviews) | **[4.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gistalt/id1520121253/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 84.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 22 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dark Medical Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046115244) | [Tom Fadial](https://appshunter.io/developer/1316852248) |

## What reviewers say

### Bedside EM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bedside-em/id413192645)

This comprehensive medical reference app provides evidence-based, peer-reviewed information for emergency medicine providers and those caring for acutely ill patients. It features a searchable, offline database with continuously updated content and a user-friendly interface.

**Highlights:** Offline access, Searchable database, Evidence-based content, Peer-reviewed updates, Pediatric tape, Clinical decision rules

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great quick reference
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Useful for residents and attendings
- 👍 High-yield information
- 👍 Well-organized content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Lost notes and bookmarks
- 🐛 Missing dental portion
- 🐛 New upgrade is lacking
- 🐛 Incomplete toxicology information
- 🐛 Basic information

**Reported bugs**

- Lost notes and bookmarks since update
- Categories reorganized and hard to find
- Temporarily lost access after rebranding
- EKG illustrations covered by back task bar

**Requested features**

- Update privacy label
- Add settings button to enlarge print
- Add an 'update' option for newest information
- Support French language
- Add more categories


### gistalt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gistalt/id1520121253)

This medical game challenges players to quickly assess patient acuity by swiping left for stable patients and right for those needing immediate intervention. It's designed to make training clinical impression skills engaging and fun.

**Highlights:** Patient acuity assessment, Swipe-based gameplay, Vital signs and lab results, Imaging interpretation, Performance scoring, Regular content updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bedside EM free?

Bedside EM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is gistalt free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bedside EM or gistalt?

gistalt is rated higher. Bedside EM averages 4.2 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while gistalt averages 4.9 from 16 ratings.

### Do Bedside EM or gistalt have ads?

Neither Bedside EM nor gistalt shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bedside EM or gistalt?

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, and gistalt every 22 months. Most recently, Bedside EM was updated on October 14, 2026 and gistalt on September 15, 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.*