Comparison

CPT QuickRef vs MDM Calc

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
Currently charting
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

MDM Calc

Features
Read full description

MDM Calc: E/M Optimizer helps clinicians choose and support the right evaluation and management level with fast, clear coding decision support. Built for Primary Care, Specialty, and OB/GYN workflows, MDM Calc guides you through the clinical work documented in the encounter—Problems, Data, and Risk—and applies the appropriate logic to explain how a result was reached. Whether you are reviewing an office visit, consultation, preventive encounter, or maternity service, MDM Calc gives you a focused, repeatable workflow for everyday coding support. WHAT MDM CALC DOES • Calculate E/M levels using medical decision making or total time when applicable • Support new patient, established patient, office, outpatient, and consult workflows • Use OB/GYN maternity flows for antepartum care, initial and subsequent labor management, delivery, and postpartum care • Account for maternity setting, delivery type, labor complexity, multiple gestation, and additional delivery services in supported scenarios • Support preventive medicine visits, Annual Wellness Visits (AWV), and Initial Preventive Physical Exams (IPPE) • Support Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) workflows with level guidance based on documented criteria • Review CPT outcomes and see the reasoning behind the suggested result • See “Why Not Higher?” opportunities and practical, component-specific paths to improve documentation (Pro) • Review modifiers, add-on services, billing warnings, and payer-related considerations in supported scenarios (Pro) BUILT FOR REAL CLINICAL WORKFLOWS • Choose a practice profile for Primary Care or Specialty workflows • Set a default visit type and adjust preferences anytime • Move through a focused step-by-step calculator designed for quick review • Save and revisit recent calculations with visit history • Use reference tools for teaching, audit preparation, and day-to-day coding review • No account required PRIVACY-RESPECTING BY DESIGN MDM Calc does not require patient names or identifiers. It is designed to provide fast, local workflow support while keeping the focus on the documented encounter. FREE TRIAL + ONE-TIME PRO UNLOCK MDM Calc includes a 30-day free trial of Pro features from first open. After the trial, unlock Pro with a one-time purchase—no subscription—to keep advanced optimization, billing guidance, and maternity features available. IMPORTANT MDM Calc is a clinical coding decision-support tool for licensed medical professionals. It is not a substitute for professional judgment, official coding guidance, payer-specific policies, institutional policies, or complete documentation review. Always validate final coding decisions against current rules and the documentation for the actual encounter.

Screenshots

CPT QuickRef4 screens
MDM Calc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: CPT QuickRef at #195 against MDM Calc's unranked. CPT QuickRef also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (12 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and MDM Calc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CPT QuickRef ships an update every 6 weeks, MDM Calc every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
CPT QuickRef versus MDM Calc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCPT QuickRefMDM Calc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (365 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews10.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings365 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#195 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAmerican Medical AssociationDOMINIC JUAN LEBRON

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

MDM Calc

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
1 purchases

MDM Calc

One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime Unlock$19.99

Questions

Is CPT QuickRef free?
CPT QuickRef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MDM Calc free?
MDM Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CPT QuickRef or MDM Calc have ads?
Neither CPT QuickRef nor MDM Calc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CPT QuickRef or MDM Calc?
CPT QuickRef ships an update every 6 weeks, and MDM Calc every 3 months. Most recently, CPT QuickRef was updated on October 11, 2026 and MDM Calc on October 1, 2026.

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