# eMPendium vs Beacon

The clearest difference is rating: Beacon at 5.0 against eMPendium's 3.4. Beacon also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Beacon holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively.

eMPendium ships an update every 3 months, Beacon every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eMPendium | Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empendium/id440460559/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-dv-support-app/id6747919151/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 148 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MEDYCYNA PRAKTYCZNA SP Z O O](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797658051) | [DOXA & CO. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822329529) |

## What reviewers say

### eMPendium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empendium/id440460559)

This modular medical application provides access to a comprehensive Polish drug reference, a digital handbook of internal diseases, and classifications for medical procedures and diseases. It also includes expert commentary, medical calculators, news, and clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive Polish Drug Reference, Digital Handbook of Internal Diseases, ICD-10 and ICD-9 Classifications, Expert Medical Commentary, Medical Calculators, Medical News and Guidelines

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-dv-support-app/id6747919151)

This app provides confidential, trauma-informed support for survivors of domestic violence, homelessness, and those needing emergency assistance in Ghana. It offers instant access to emergency services, a directory of resources, and safety planning tools, prioritizing user privacy and empowerment.

**Highlights:** Instant access to Ghana emergency services, 24/7 crisis hotline connections, Quick exit feature for immediate safety, Anonymous emergency communication, Resource directory for shelters, legal, and medical aid, Safety planning tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eMPendium free?

eMPendium is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Beacon free?

Beacon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, eMPendium or Beacon?

Beacon is rated higher. eMPendium averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Beacon averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do eMPendium or Beacon have ads?

Neither eMPendium nor Beacon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eMPendium or Beacon?

eMPendium ships an update every 3 months, and Beacon every 6 weeks. Most recently, eMPendium was updated on September 27, 2026 and Beacon on October 5, 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.*