CPT QuickRef vs CCS Prep
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
CCS Prep
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Prepare confidently for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) certification with a complete exam preparation solution based on the official AHIMA curriculum. Designed for medical coders, health information professionals, and students seeking advanced coding credentials, this app provides comprehensive tools to strengthen coding accuracy, analytical skills, and exam readiness. All content follows current AHIMA standards and industry coding guidelines. With no in-app purchases or hidden fees, the entire learning experience is fully accessible from the start. The latest update includes expanded inpatient and outpatient scenarios, improved ICD-10-CM and CPT coding practice, updated question banks, and clearer rationales to enhance understanding and retention. Key Features: • Based on the Official AHIMA CCS Curriculum Aligned with recognized coding guidelines for ICD-x-CM, ICD-x-PCS, CPT, HCPCS, and reimbursement methodologies. • Passing Guarantee Structured to help you pass the CCS exam on the first attempt with confidence. • Full-Length CCS Practice Exams Realistic simulations of CCS exam questions with detailed explanations for every answer. • Inpatient and Outpatient Coding Scenarios Practice coding complex medical cases designed to strengthen accuracy and decision-making. • ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Practice Comprehensive question sets covering diagnosis coding, procedure coding, and outpatient code assignment. • Medical Record Review Exercises Practice reviewing charts, abstracts, physician notes, and documentation elements required for accurate code selection. • Detailed Explanations Every question includes a clear rationale and references to guideline concepts. • Performance Tracking and Analytics Monitor improvement, identify weak areas, and measure readiness over time. No In-App Purchases: All exams, coding scenarios, tools, and learning modules are included without subscriptions or extra fees. Who This App Is For: • Medical Coders • Health Information Management (HIM) Professionals • Coding Specialists preparing for AHIMA CCS certification • Students in medical coding programs • Coders seeking advanced credentials • Professionals pursuing CCS certification or renewal Why This App: This app provides a full CCS exam preparation pathway, combining real-world coding scenarios with curriculum-based study materials. It strengthens technical coding skills, accuracy, and exam performance by mirroring actual CCS testing requirements and industry expectations.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: CPT QuickRef at Free against CCS Prep's $19.99. CPT QuickRef also leads on chart position (#196 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12 vs 14.0). CCS Prep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12). On 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
CPT QuickRef is free to download; CCS Prep costs $19.99 up front. CPT QuickRef sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. CCS Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | CPT QuickRef | CCS Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (365 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 10.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 365 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #196 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | American Medical Association | Medical Relevant Inc |
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
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- 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
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- Better code description formatting and readability
- Service level calculator for E/M codes
- Support for all medical specialties, not just E/M
CCS Prep
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CPT QuickRef
- CPT E/M All Content 2017Free
- CPT E/M All Content 2019Free
- CPT E/M Premium Pack$9.99
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- 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
CCS Prep
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CPT QuickRef free?
Is CCS Prep free?
Do CPT QuickRef or CCS Prep have ads?
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