Comparison

STAT!Ref vs ClinicalKey

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

STAT!Ref

Access a vast library of evidence-based medical resources on your mobile device. Search across hundreds of titles, bookmark key information, and define medical terms instantly. Features text-to-speech and news alerts for the latest healthcare updates.

Highlights
  • Cross-searchable medical resources
  • Bookmark specific paragraphs
  • Instant medical term definitions
  • Text-to-Speech functionality
  • Evidence Alerts and news feeds
  • Customizable content access
Features
Read full description

PLEASE NOTE: Access to an existing STAT!Ref Online subscription is required in order to use this app. STAT!Ref is a reputable healthcare e-resource enabling users to intuitively cross-search full-text, evidence-based and authoritative resources. With 300+ resources currently offered in over 50 healthcare disciplines, STAT!Ref provides the latest healthcare information in a customizable and convenient format. STAT!Ref is used by millions of professionals and over 90% of medical universities. This free app ensures that iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch users will get the most from STAT!Ref database content, provided courtesy of your library. STAT!Ref Mobile enables you to: • Access all of your core STAT!Ref content in a convenient format designed specifically for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. • Search your library's entire database, or search only in a specific title. • Bookmark specific paragraphs so you can quickly find that exact spot again later. • Quickly define unknown medical terminology using your included medical dictionary simply by highlighting the word and tapping "Define". • Quickly jump around large documents using the local "Contents" panel. • Pick up right where you left off, even after the application is closed. • Listen while your device reads the text to you aloud using Text-to-Speech. • View the latest Evidence Alerts and Reuters® Medical News Feed articles, and optionally receive push notifications when new articles become available. Use Your Preferences Account as a Temporary STAT!Ref Login If you do not have a username and password for your STAT!Ref subscription, you can set up your Preferences Account as a temporary STAT!Ref login username and password in order to access STAT!Ref from mobile devices or from home. This may be useful if you normally log in to STAT!Ref using IP based authentication or a proxy server. Log in to STAT!Ref as you normally do, log in to your Preferences and activate the login as a temporary full login account under the "Temporary Login Account" tab.

About

ClinicalKey

This app provides medical professionals with instant access to a vast library of clinical knowledge, including synoptic content and in-depth reference materials. It helps users stay updated on medical advancements, confirm diagnoses, and advance their research skills, all while offering CME/MOC/CE credits.

Highlights
  • Access to 30+ medical specialties
  • Synoptic content for quick answers
  • Full-text reference books and journals
  • Mobile-optimized medical calculators
  • Earn CME/MOC/CE credits
  • Intuitive search functionality
Read full description

INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. Access the latest advances in clinical knowledge anytime, anywhere with ClinicalKey®- the essential resource for medical professionals. ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to provide clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter most. With ClinicalKey, you can: • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research Please note: To access our extensive content library, ensure you have a subscription to ClinicalKey from your organization. To get started: 1. Download the free ClinicalKey app for iOS on your iPad® or iPhone®. 2. Follow the prompts to connect to your organization’s account.The app will ask questions to get you to the right content. 3. Choose the method of access that is right for you: 4. Select Access via Network if you need a quick answer and your device is connected to your organization's network. 5. Select Access via Institution for other ways to connect. 6. Once you have gained access, create or sign- in to your Elsevier ClinicalKey user account to save favorites and earn CME/MOC/CE/MOC/CE. ClinicalKey® Because you want to find a better way to help your patients ClinicalKey combines the speed of synoptic content with the depth of a comprehensive clinical reference tool in one intuitive solution to give clinicians trusted information in the moments that matter. With the ClinicalKey, clinicians will be able to: • Enhance patient care with trusted resources and deep insights across 30+ specialties • Combine efficiency and confidence in your practice with access to quick answers and information that is continuously updated • Excel in your field by building foundational knowledge and keeping up with the latest trends through full-text reference books and journals, while earning free CME/MOC/CE credit • Stay abreast of rapidly expanding clinical knowledge • Quickly confirm diagnosis and treatment information • Advance critical thinking skills and research ClinicalKey App for iOS Features: • Trusted Comprehensive content covering more than 30 medical and surgical specialties • Easy-to-scan, clinically focused medical topic synopses • Intuitive search with auto-suggest/ • Easy search with auto-completion • Direct navigation to your favorite books and journals • Mobile-optimized medical calculators • Access to full-text books, full-text journals, guidelines, multimedia and more • Access via Institutional IP; individuals will not be able to earn CME/MOC/CE, save, or share content when using IP authentication. Please register for remote access via your institutional web version of ClinicalKey. ClinicalKey Registrants (non-IP) customers will enjoy: • Opportunity to earn CME and fulfill MOC requirements with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) • Ability to favorite and save content • Option to print and email topics, videos or graphics • Earn and track free CME/MOC/CE credit Ability to favorite and save content Print and email topics, videos or graphics to patients and colleagues iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries.

Screenshots

STAT!Ref4 screens
ClinicalKey4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: STAT!Ref at free against ClinicalKey's subscription. STAT!Ref also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 9%). ClinicalKey's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STAT!Ref ships an update every 3 months, ClinicalKey every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
STAT!Ref versus ClinicalKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTAT!RefClinicalKey
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews — better8.8% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB55 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperTeton Data SystemsElsevier Inc.

Customer experience

STAT!Ref

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral18.2%
Negative45.5%

ClinicalKey

Written reviews102 reviews
Positive8.8%
Neutral4.9%
Negative86.3%

Bugs and requests

STAT!Ref

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ClinicalKey

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App stuck on loading screen after initial login
  • Forced logout when closing or minimizing app
  • Institutional login not working despite web access
  • App crashes during search queries
  • OpenAthens authentication failures
Show 9 more
  • Network change warnings appearing incorrectly
  • Search results returning unrelated content
  • Textbook search not finding available books
  • App won't load after recent updates
  • Blank search results for valid queries
  • Scrolling in table of contents sidebar not functioning
  • Landscape orientation not supported
  • App doesn't remember page position when reopened
  • Restricted access to books after updates

Requested features

10 requests
  • PDF download capability within the app
  • Favorite/bookmark textbooks and articles
  • Landscape mode support for iPad
  • Find-on-page text search function
  • Automatic session persistence and page memory
Show 5 more
  • Text size and screen color customization
  • Fingerprint/passcode login option
  • Browse feature with category filtering
  • Offline access to downloaded materials
  • Feature parity with website version

In-app purchases

None

STAT!Ref

No in-app purchases

None

ClinicalKey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is STAT!Ref free?
STAT!Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ClinicalKey free?
ClinicalKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do STAT!Ref or ClinicalKey have ads?
Neither STAT!Ref nor ClinicalKey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, STAT!Ref or ClinicalKey?
STAT!Ref ships an update every 3 months, and ClinicalKey every 5 weeks. Most recently, STAT!Ref was updated on October 1, 2026 and ClinicalKey on October 11, 2026.

Other comparisons