Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab vs VentRef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab
Explore upper airway anatomy in a 3D simulator. Access clinical information, photographs, and illustrations through tappable targets. Offers detailed views and easy navigation for a unique learning experience.
- 3D upper airway simulation
- Tappable anatomical targets
- Clinical information access
- Detailed anatomical structure views
- Cross-section overview
- Free-range navigation
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Overview: Explore the upper airway with a 3D simulator. The Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab forms a unique transition between book-learning and real-world experience by allowing users to study the anatomy in a 3-dimensional space. Tappable targets provide access to clinical information, photographs, and medical illustrations. Features: -See the anatomy from a unique perspective -View detailed information on 34 different anatomical structures -Cross-section showing an overview of the entire area -Free-range and instant transportation systems for easy navigation -Navigational head shows current location and orientation Controls: -Double-tap to move forward -Pinch out for precision movement -Pinch in to move backward -Single-finger swipe to rotate camera -Double-finger swipe to move vertically or horizontally -Two-finger roll to roll camera -Single-tap on a target to view name -Double-tap on a target to view detailed information
VentRef
A clinical reference tool for healthcare professionals managing mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. It provides information grounded in respiratory physiology and evidence-based critical care.
- Mechanical ventilation reference
- Oxygen therapy reference
- Respiratory physiology
- Evidence-based critical care
- Clinical decision support
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VentRef is a focused clinical reference for clinicians managing invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, grounded in core respiratory physiology and evidence-based critical care practice. This application is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Calculations and reference values are derived from published peer-reviewed medical literature and textbooks cited in the Sources section of the app. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding medical conditions or clinical decisions, and do not disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of information provided by this app. About Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC ("RK.MD") I'm an adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist practicing in academic medicine. I'm passionate about teaching with free, open-access medical education. Learn more on my site: https://rk.md
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: VentRef at 5.0 against Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab's 4.4. VentRef also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VentRef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VentRef has 44 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab's written reviews are positive against 100% of VentRef's.
Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab ships an update every 20 months, VentRef every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab | VentRef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (44 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 44 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 169 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Augusta University | Rishi Kumar |
Customer experience
Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab
VentRef
In-app purchases
Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab
No in-app purchases
VentRef
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab free?
Is VentRef free?
Which has better reviews, Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab or VentRef?
Do Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab or VentRef have ads?
Which is updated more often, Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab or VentRef?
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