# PocketEMA vs Surgical Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Surgical Notes at 3.7 against PocketEMA's 2.2. Surgical Notes also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 3%) and monetization model (free vs subscription). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Surgical Notes holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61 and 37 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 3% of PocketEMA's written reviews are positive against 43% of Surgical Notes's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketEMA | Surgical Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (61 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketema/id460369272/reviews) | **[3.7 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgical-notes/id666491850/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **61** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 3.3% of reviews | **42.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 232 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Modernizing Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387022758) | [Surgical Notes, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/666491853) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketEMA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketema/id460369272)

This mobile application provides medical professionals with on-the-go access to a comprehensive EHR system. It allows users to view patient history, chart information, attachments, and e-prescribe, all from their handheld device. Data syncs seamlessly with the web platform, ensuring up-to-date information wherever you are.

**Highlights:** View patient history, Access chart information, View patient attachments, e-Prescribe functionality, Take point-of-encounter photos, Send/receive intra-mail

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Surgical Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgical-notes/id666491850)

This app streamlines surgical documentation for healthcare professionals. It allows for wireless digital dictation, real-time report management, and effortless coding, enhancing productivity and patient care. Seamlessly integrates with existing workflows for efficient RCM solutions.

**Highlights:** Wireless digital dictation, Real-time report management, Effortless coding, Streamlined transcription turnaround, User-centered design, Push notification reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketEMA free?

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

### Is Surgical Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PocketEMA or Surgical Notes?

Surgical Notes is rated higher. PocketEMA averages 2.2 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while Surgical Notes averages 3.7 from 37 ratings.

### Do PocketEMA or Surgical Notes have ads?

Neither PocketEMA nor Surgical Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketEMA or Surgical Notes?

PocketEMA ships an update every 5 weeks, and Surgical Notes every 5 weeks. Most recently, PocketEMA was updated on October 14, 2026 and Surgical Notes on October 3, 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.*