# STAT!Ref vs Bates' Pocket Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Bates' Pocket Guide at 4.8 against STAT!Ref's 2.8. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on ratings volume (301 vs 5) and chart position (#195 vs unranked). STAT!Ref's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. STAT!Ref asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bates' Pocket Guide has 301 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of STAT!Ref's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's.

STAT!Ref ships an update every 3 months, Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STAT!Ref | Bates' Pocket Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/statref/id474559171/reviews) | **[4.8 (301 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **301** |
| Positive reviews | 36.4% of reviews | **40.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#195** |
| Size | 8 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Teton Data Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/474559174) | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) |

## What reviewers say

### STAT!Ref

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/statref/id474559171)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bates' Pocket Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This app provides essential information for obtaining health histories and conducting physical exams. It features step-by-step techniques, updated images, and differential diagnoses for quick and accurate interpretation of findings. Ideal for students and professionals needing a fast reference.

**Highlights:** Over 130 detailed topics, Step-by-step instructions, Updated photographs and illustrations, Two-column layout, New Algorithms for symptom approaches, Differential diagnoses, Highlighting and note-taking, Advanced search

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed. | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable reference
- 🖼️ Helpful pictures for diagnosis
- 📚 Good for quick reference
- 💡 Easy to understand and logical format
- 🎯 Useful for clinicals and easy to maneuver

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Overpriced app
- 🔄 Outdated software
- 🖱️ Not user-friendly navigation
- 💸 Repeated payments required
- ❌ Incorrect information/algorithms

**Reported bugs**

- Sectional information is wrong
- Topics do not correlate to information
- Asterisk information is incorrect
- App information needs updating and reviewing
- Software is glitchy

**Requested features**

- Update and review app information for accuracy
- Improve content layout and navigation
- Offer better preview options before purchase
- Provide discounts for existing textbook/resource owners
- Clarify product offerings to avoid buyer confusion


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STAT!Ref free?

STAT!Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?

Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, STAT!Ref or Bates' Pocket Guide?

Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. STAT!Ref averages 2.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 from 301 ratings.

### Do STAT!Ref or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?

Neither STAT!Ref nor Bates' Pocket Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STAT!Ref or Bates' Pocket Guide?

STAT!Ref ships an update every 3 months, and Bates' Pocket Guide every 14 months. Most recently, STAT!Ref was updated on October 1, 2026 and Bates' Pocket Guide on October 13, 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.*