# Bedside EM vs palmEM AI

The clearest difference is monetization model: palmEM AI at free with in-app purchases against Bedside EM's subscription. palmEM AI also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and chart position (#129 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bedside EM sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and palmEM AI sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Bedside EM against 4.2 for palmEM AI. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 72 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Bedside EM's written reviews are positive against 82% of palmEM AI's.

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, palmEM AI every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bedside EM | palmEM AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bedside-em/id413192645/reviews) | [4.2 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palmem-ai-em-quick-reference/id481034047/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 60 | **72** |
| Positive reviews | **84.9% of reviews** | 82.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#129** |
| Size | 39 MB | 139 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **14.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dark Medical Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046115244) | [palmER Worldwide LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/481034130) |

## 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


### palmEM AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palmem-ai-em-quick-reference/id481034047)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This AI-powered emergency medicine guide provides rapid, evidence-based clinical decision support for medical professionals. It offers tailored guidance for specific patient scenarios and a comprehensive knowledge base, accessible offline.

**Highlights:** AI clinical decision support, Plain language medical queries, Evidence-based workups and management, Offline core content access, Medication quick reference, Procedure step-by-step guidance, Clinical decision rules

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription \| Unlimited AI | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $29.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription \| Unlimited AI | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and efficient reference tool for ED scenarios
- 👍 Easy-to-navigate interface with logical organization
- 📚 Comprehensive content covering emergency medicine topics
- 🎯 Concise, clinically-relevant information without unnecessary fluff
- 💊 Useful features like Broselow tape and drug dosages

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Outdated protocols (ACLS, PALS)
- 🐛 Subscription model confusion and access issues
- 📱 Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- 🔄 Lack of regular updates over extended periods
- ❌ Note-taking feature removed or non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on latest iOS updates
- Subscription verification fails for previous owners
- Access denied despite full subscription status
- App does not load on iPad
- Note section disappeared after update

**Requested features**

- Add toxidromes section
- Photo support in note-taking function
- Swipe-back gesture for faster navigation
- Procedure images or video links
- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bedside EM free?

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

### Is palmEM AI free?

palmEM AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bedside EM or palmEM AI?

Bedside EM and palmEM AI are both rated 4.2 out of 5 on the App Store, from 60 and 72 ratings respectively.

### Do Bedside EM or palmEM AI have ads?

Neither Bedside EM nor palmEM AI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bedside EM or palmEM AI?

Bedside EM ships an update every 5 months, and palmEM AI every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bedside EM was updated on October 10, 2026 and palmEM AI on October 12, 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.*