Comparison

CPT QuickRef vs E/M Coder

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CPT QuickRef

This app provides a mobile reference for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, aiding in accurate medical billing. It offers tools like an E/M Wizard and access to RVUs, global days, and illustrations to help healthcare professionals select appropriate codes.

Highlights
  • CPT code lookup
  • E/M Wizard for code selection
  • RVU and GPCI calculations
  • Global days reference
  • Color procedural illustrations
  • Vignettes for code descriptions
  • Favorites list for frequent codes
Features
Read full description

CPT® QuickRef from the American Medical Association The CPT QuickRef app puts all the coding and billing tools that you need in the palm of your hand. Developed by the American Medical Association (AMA), this on-the-go reference guide quickly helps you determine the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes to use for accurate billing. (This app provides suggested codes. Final code selection remains the responsibility of the individual user.) CPT QuickRef is the only official mobile app from the AMA – the source of the CPT codeset, and experts to provide authoritative information about CPT codes and proper use. E/M codes are the most frequently used codes and arguably the most difficult to assign. The E/M Wizard (included in the free trial and with any single or multiyear Coding & Billing Pack purchase) will help physicians and qualified health care professionals select the right code according to AMA and CMS coding guidelines The app includes a 14-day trial of full access, after which in-app purchase or activation is required. Choose a single year Coding and Billing Pack, • The latest information — Receive automatic when new relative value units (RVUs) and proprietary laboratory analysis (PLA) codes are released or when technical corrections are made to 2026 CPT codes • Favorites — Select the codes you use most and save them to your favorites list • Facility and non-facility RVUs — Use federal data on facility and non-facility work and practice expense values • GPCIs — Set your region’s geographic practice cost index to calculate accurate Medicare payment for each procedure • Global days — Reference the number of global days CMS assigns to a given procedure • Color illustrations — Better understand complex procedures with 200+ procedural illustrations • Clear references to CPT® Assistant articles — View article titles and tap for direct access with the CPT Assistant Archive add-on • Over 4,400 Vignettes – understand exactly what procedures each code represents with typical patient and service descriptions

About

E/M Coder

This tool helps outpatient healthcare professionals determine the appropriate E/M code for patient visits. It guides users through medical decision-making or time spent to suggest visit levels. The app is based on AMA CPT® guidelines and CMS 2021 PFS Final Rule updates.

Highlights
  • Determine E/M code for outpatient visits
  • Based on medical decision-making
  • Based on time spent
  • Uses AMA CPT® guidelines
  • Updated with CMS 2021 PFS Final Rule
Features
Read full description

Find the right E/M code for your outpatient visit. A straightforward tool to determine your visit level based on your medical decision-making or time.  Based on the AMA CPT® Evaluation and Management Office or Other Outpatient and Prolonged Services Code and Guideline Changes and updated with CMS 2021 PFS Final Rule.  (This app provides suggested codes. Final code selection remains the responsibility of the individual physician or other qualified health care professional.)

Screenshots

CPT QuickRef4 screens
E/M Coder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: E/M Coder at none against CPT QuickRef's 12. E/M Coder also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (25% vs 11%). CPT QuickRef's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (365 vs 8). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CPT QuickRef sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. E/M Coder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CPT QuickRef holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CPT QuickRef has 365 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 11% of CPT QuickRef's written reviews are positive against 25% of E/M Coder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CPT QuickRef ships an update every 6 weeks, E/M Coder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
CPT QuickRef versus E/M Coder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCPT QuickRefE/M Coder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (365 ratings) — better4.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews10.8% of reviews25.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings365 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS129.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB49 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAmerican Medical AssociationStatNote, Inc.

Customer experience

CPT QuickRef

All ratings365 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral1.9%
Negative15.1%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive10.8%
Neutral4.6%
Negative84.6%

E/M Coder

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

CPT QuickRef

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App crashes when accessing modifiers or premium content
  • App freezes and becomes unresponsive
  • App refuses to open after updates
  • Search function returns no results for valid codes
  • Search only works with exact verbatim matches
Show 8 more
  • QR code scanning crashes the app
  • Restore purchase button non-functional
  • Account registration issues and login failures
  • Favorites disappear after updates
  • Premium content remains locked despite payment
  • App incompatible with iOS updates
  • Pending charges and billing issues not resolved
  • Content not updating despite claims of installation

Requested features

8 requests
  • Search feature that finds partial matches and synonyms
  • Ability to save and access favorites across sessions
  • Include figures and images from CPT manual
  • Advanced search with multiple filter options
  • Offline access to downloaded content
Show 3 more
  • Better code description formatting and readability
  • Service level calculator for E/M codes
  • Support for all medical specialties, not just E/M

E/M Coder

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

CPT QuickRef

One-time12
  • CPT E/M All Content 2017Free
  • CPT E/M All Content 2019Free
  • CPT E/M Premium Pack$9.99
Show 9 more
  • Coding and Billing Pack 2017$59.99
  • Single Year 2019$59.99
  • Single Year 2020$59.99
  • Single Year 2021$59.99
  • Single Year 2022$59.99
  • Single Year 2023$59.99
  • Single Year 2024$59.99
  • Single Year 2026$59.99
  • Single Year 2025$59.99
None

E/M Coder

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CPT QuickRef free?
CPT QuickRef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is E/M Coder free?
E/M Coder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CPT QuickRef or E/M Coder?
CPT QuickRef is rated higher. CPT QuickRef averages 4.3 out of 5 from 365 ratings, while E/M Coder averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.
Do CPT QuickRef or E/M Coder have ads?
Neither CPT QuickRef nor E/M Coder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CPT QuickRef or E/M Coder?
CPT QuickRef ships an update every 6 weeks, and E/M Coder every 2 weeks. Most recently, CPT QuickRef was updated on September 29, 2026 and E/M Coder on September 27, 2026.

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