# CPT QuickRef vs E/M Coder

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | CPT QuickRef | E/M Coder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (365 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cpt-quickref/id426712025/reviews)** | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em-coder/id1548963112/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **365** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 10.8% of reviews | **25.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 47 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Medical Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/397241809) | [StatNote, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1548963114) |

## What reviewers say

### CPT QuickRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cpt-quickref/id426712025)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CPT E/M All Content 2017 | Free | one-time |
| CPT E/M All Content 2019 | Free | one-time |
| CPT E/M Premium Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coding and Billing Pack 2017 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2019 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2020 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2021 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2022 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2023 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2024 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2026 | $59.99 | one-time |
| Single Year 2025 | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly navigation and interface
- 📚 Comprehensive CPT code reference at fingertips
- 💼 Useful for medical professionals and coders
- 🔄 Annual updates available at reasonable cost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing model with hidden costs
- 🚫 Misleading free app listing with paywall
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 🔒 Access locked after purchase without recourse
- 📵 Non-responsive customer support

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### E/M Coder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em-coder/id1548963112)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*