EchoLab vs EchoRef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EchoLab
This app provides a comprehensive framework for teaching and performing quantitative echocardiography. It offers a wide array of calculations, graphical displays of equations, and integrates current guidelines for a cohesive overview of cardiac ultrasound analysis. A companion Apple Watch app is also included for on-the-go reference.
- Quantitative echocardiography calculations
- Integration of ASE/EACVI guidelines
- Analytic Engine for synthesized results
- Companion Apple Watch app
- Graphical display of equations
- Medical literature references with hyperlinks
- Wide array of echocardiographic calculations
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EchoLab presents the formulas and algorithms used in an adult echocardiography laboratory. Designed by a practicing cardiologist, EchoLab provides a comprehensive framework for teaching the principles of quantitative echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound. EchoLab's unique design permits sharing of entered and calculated data between its many formulas. Quick Entry views provide immediate access to a wide array of echocardiographic calculations. Unique to EchoLab among echocardiography applications is the powerful Analytic Engine, which synthesizes results from multiple calculations into a cohesive overview with a comprehensive summary, with integration of ASE/EACVI guidelines. The included companion app for the Apple Watch provides a ready reference when performing or interpreting echocardiograms. Available with each calculation is a graphical display of the corresponding mathematical equation, along with tips for using the calculation and medical literature references with integrated hyperlinks. Calculations and analyses include: • Aortic effective regurgitant orifice area • Aortic energy loss index • Aortic flow acceleration time with ratio to left ventricular ejection time • Aortic prosthetic paravalvular regurgitant extent • Aortic regurgitant fraction • Aortic regurgitant jet width, jet area, pressure half-time, and vena contracta • Aortic regurgitation index (for TAVR, from invasive pressure measurements) • Aortic root assessment • Aortic transvalvular flow rate • Aortic valve area (from velocity and velocity-time integrals, including dobutamine stress with projected aortic valve area) • Aortic valve resistance • Aortic valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) • Biventricular coupling index • Body mass index • Body surface area • Cardiac output and ejection fraction (3D, area-length, Doppler, Dumesnil, Teichholz, simplified Quinones, and Simpson's methods) • Diastolic evaluation (using 2025 ASE guidelines for analysis) • Diastolic stress echocardiography • echocardiographic Pulmonary to Left Atrial Ratio (ePLAR) • Exercise stress echocardiography • Hemodynamic summary • Left atrial appendage emptying velocity • Left atrial pressure • Left atrial expansion index, function index, and reservoir strain • Left and right atrial volume and index • Left ventricular diastolic diameter index • Left ventricular dP/dt • Left ventricular fractional shortening • Left ventricular GLS • Left ventricular mass, mass index, and relative wall thickness • Left ventricular myocardial performance index • Left ventricular stroke work loss • Left ventricular wall motion score index • Maximum predicted heart rate (for dobutamine and exercise stress) • Maximum rate-pressure product (for exercise stress) • Mean arterial pressure • Mitral effective orifice area (PISA and stroke volume methods) • Mitral regurgitant fraction (PISA and stroke volume methods) • Mitral regurgitant vena contracta • Mitral valve area (continuity, PISA, and pressure half-time methods) • Mitral valve resistance • Mitral valvuloplasty score • Pericardial effusion (size and flow velocity paradoxus) • Prosthetic aortic and mitral valve assessment • Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (using tricuspid regurgitant velocity, VSD flow velocity, or pulmonary artery acceleration time), diastolic pressure, and mean pressure • Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure • Pulmonary vascular resistance • Right atrial pressure • Right ventricular-arterial coupling • Right ventricular function: dP/dt, fractional area change, free wall strain, index of myocardial performance, lateral annular plane systolic excursion, size, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) • Shunt ratio (Qp:Qs) • Systemic vascular resistance • Tricuspid regurgitant vena contracta • Tricuspid valve area (pressure half-time method) EchoLab is a teaching and reference application, not a tool for clinical diagnosis, clinical decision-making, or echocardiography report generation.
EchoRef
This educational reference app provides comprehensive information on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), echocardiography, and cardiac measurements. It includes lessons on interventional procedures and hemodynamic calculations for medical professionals.
- Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
- Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
- Cardiac dimensions and valve measurements
- Hemodynamic and ultrasound calculations
- Interventional procedure lessons
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Echocardiography and point-of-care ultrasound organized for the bedside. EchoRef is a comprehensive echocardiography and ultrasound reference for physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, sonographers, medical students, and other healthcare learners. Review TEE, TTE, and POCUS videos, check cardiac measurements and diagnostic criteria, evaluate native and prosthetic valves, and perform commonly used ultrasound and hemodynamic calculations, all in one focused reference. FEATURES • Educational video library covering 2D and 3D TEE, interventional echocardiography, mechanical circulatory support, and clinical cases • POCUS instruction for cardiac, lung, abdominal, vascular, and peripheral nerve block examinations • Cardiac anatomy measurements and reference values for chamber size, ventricular function, diastology, and vascular structures • Native valve assessment for aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic stenosis and regurgitation • Prosthetic valve reference for surgical valves, TAVR, and prosthesis evaluation • Ultrasound and hemodynamic calculators for valve area, cardiac output, ventricular function, filling pressures, vascular resistance, shunts, fluid responsiveness, and more • Cardiac equations, hemodynamic reference values, and ultrasound physics • Clinical protocols, focused examination guidance, findings atlas, and reporting documentation • Acquisition guidance, measurement tips, common pitfalls, and related clinical content • Global search, favorites, related links, and personal notes EchoRef connects ultrasound physics, image acquisition, echocardiographic interpretation, and bedside decision-making. Whether you are learning standard views, reviewing an unfamiliar finding, evaluating valve disease, or checking a calculation, the app makes relevant information easy to find. Created by Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC (“RK.MD”), an academic adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist committed to free, open-access medical education. Learn more at https://rk.md EchoRef is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional judgment, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical findings and calculations must be independently verified and interpreted in the context of the individual patient. Seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition. Do not disregard or delay professional medical advice because of information provided by this app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: EchoRef at Free against EchoLab's $4.99. EchoRef also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). EchoLab's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On 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
EchoRef is free to download; EchoLab costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
EchoLab ships an update every 4 months, EchoRef every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EchoLab | EchoRef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 4.9 (1.4K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1.4K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 104 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Medical Appware, LLC | Rishi Kumar |
Customer experience
EchoLab
EchoRef
In-app purchases
EchoLab
No in-app purchases
EchoRef
No in-app purchases









