# Bedside EM vs CorePendium

The clearest difference is rating: CorePendium at 4.9 against Bedside EM's 4.2. CorePendium also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). Bedside EM's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 62%). 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. CorePendium asks for nothing beyond the download.

CorePendium holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CorePendium has 1.5K ratings behind it against 60, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Bedside EM's written reviews are positive against 62% of CorePendium's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, CorePendium monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bedside EM | CorePendium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bedside-em/id413192645/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/corependium/id1581291387/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 60 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **84.9% of reviews** | 61.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 39 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dark Medical Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046115244) | [EM:RAP, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/804248263) |

## 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


### CorePendium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/corependium/id1581291387)

This app provides a comprehensive, continuously updated, and peer-reviewed clinical reference for Emergency and Urgent Care Medicine. It features integrated multimedia, offline access, intuitive navigation, and medical calculators, making it an essential tool for medical professionals on the go.

**Highlights:** Expert-backed, continuously revised content, Integrated media library (ECGs, X-rays, videos, audio), Offline access to all content, Intuitive navigation with Rapid Access and Deep Dive sections, Integrated medical calculators, Links to EM:RAP knowledge base content

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great resource
- 👍 Excellent and usable app
- 👍 Terrific point of care resource
- 👍 Invaluable for EM residents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lacking search functionality
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔍 Poor indexing and content organization

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- iPad version
- Ability to track progress and bookmark content
- Video playback controls (speed, rewind)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bedside EM free?

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

### Is CorePendium free?

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

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

CorePendium is rated higher. Bedside EM averages 4.2 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while CorePendium averages 4.9 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Bedside EM or CorePendium have ads?

Neither Bedside EM nor CorePendium shows ads.

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

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, and CorePendium monthly. Most recently, Bedside EM was updated on October 10, 2026 and CorePendium on October 11, 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.*