Comparison

palmEM AI vs Bates' Pocket Guide

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

Head to head
About

palmEM AI

This AI-powered emergency medicine guide provides rapid, evidence-based clinical decision support for medical professionals. It offers tailored guidance for specific patient scenarios and a comprehensive knowledge base, accessible offline.

Highlights
  • AI clinical decision support
  • Plain language medical queries
  • Evidence-based workups and management
  • Offline core content access
  • Medication quick reference
  • Procedure step-by-step guidance
  • Clinical decision rules
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

palmEM: Emergency Medicine Quick Reference, Offline Guide, Point-of-Care Reference and AI Clinical Decision Support The most comprehensive EM quick reference ever created, powered by advanced AI. The #1 medical app in 80+ countries. Apple's "What's Hot" and "New and Noteworthy." WHY palmEM? AI that actually understands medicine • Your specific patient scenario. Your exact question. Ask anything in plain language, just like you would ask a colleague, and get tailored clinical guidance in seconds. Not generic overviews or academic deep dives. Real answers for real bedside medicine. The answers you need when seconds count • From routine to rare, common to zebras - get evidence-based clinical decision support in seconds. Skip the scrolling. Skip the page flipping. Get straight to the answer you need. Built by emergency medicine physicians • Clinician-made, clinician-used, continuously updated and refined for real practice. Zero industry influence. And we never sell your data. Works the way you work • Intuitive interface. Dark mode. Minimal taps to answers. Fast, focused, and built for the ED. Offline when you need it • Core reference content is accessible offline, so you are covered even without signal. YOUR COMPLETE EM KNOWLEDGE BASE • Evidence-based workups and management • Differentials, red flags, and next steps • Medication quick reference • Procedures and step-by-step guidance • Pediatric emergencies • Clinical decision rules (HEART, PERC, Wells, Canadian C-Spine, and more) • High-yield content without the fluff TRUSTED BY CLINICIANS WORLDWIDE "I've dumped my $300/year app for palmEM. Cheaper, prettier, faster." —EMtutorials.com "There is so much in here I don't know where to begin. Could I enthuse about this any more?" —Life in the Fast Lane "An excellent, rapid point-of-care reference perfectly designed for the time crunch of the emergency department." —iMedicalApps "The relentless search for an EM app that does it all inevitably leads to palmEM." —Emergency Medicine News PERFECT FOR Emergency Medicine • Urgent Care • Critical Care • Internal Medicine • Family Medicine • Primary Care • EMS • Nursing • Paramedics • NPs • PAs • Medical Students • Residents • Fellows • Attendings TRY RISK-FREE FOR 7 DAYS Start your no-obligation trial. Experience AI-powered clinical support that helps you move faster and think sharper. Download now. Your next shift will thank you. --- DISCLAIMER: This app is intended for medical professionals. It is strictly for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a recognized medical professional before making decisions based on information included in this application. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.palm-er.com/site/privacy-policy/

About

Bates' Pocket Guide

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
Read full description

*Featuring the latest content from the latest edition* ABOUT THE BATES' GUIDE: The Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking contains the critical information needed to obtain a meaningful health history, conduct a thorough physical exam, and interpret the findings quickly and accurately. Locate answers fast and review step-by-step techniques and possible findings using the distinctive two-column format with updated images. Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking is the ideal quick-reference resource for today’s medical, PA, pharmacy, and nursing students. FEATURES: • Over 130 detailed topics with step-by-step instructions • Updated photographs, illustrations, and references reinforce key content based on the latest evidence-based information • Two-column layout optimized for smartphones and tablets • New Algorithms provide helpful starting approaches for patients with common presenting symptoms. • Differential diagnoses for common, normal, and abnormal findings • Highlight and take notes within any entry • Advanced Search helps find topics quickly • “Favorites” for bookmarking important entries Authors: Lynn S. Bickley MD, FACP, Peter G. Szilagyi MD, MPH, Richard M. Hoffman MD, MPH, FACP, Rainier P. Soriano MD Publisher: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Powered by: Unbound Medicine Unbound Privacy Policy: www.unboundmedicine.com/privacy Unbound Terms of Use: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/end_user_license_agreement

Screenshots

palmEM AI4 screens
Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: palmEM AI at 82% against Bates' Pocket Guide's 41%. palmEM AI also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months) and chart position (#162 vs unranked). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (304 vs 75). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. palmEM AI sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 75 and 304 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of palmEM AI's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

palmEM AI ships an update every 3 weeks, Bates' Pocket Guide every 11 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
palmEM AI versus Bates' Pocket Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpalmEM AIBates' Pocket Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (75 ratings)4.8 (304 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.5% of reviews — better40.9% of reviews
Number of ratings75304 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#162 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS14.0.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size139 MB10 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperpalmER Worldwide LLCUnbound Medicine, Inc.

Customer experience

palmEM AI

All ratings72 ratings
Positive79.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative15.3%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive82.5%
Neutral4.1%
Negative13.4%

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings304 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

User reviews

palmEM AI

From 75 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick and efficient reference tool for ED scenarios
  • 👍 Easy-to-navigate interface with logical organization
  • 📚 Comprehensive content covering emergency medicine topics
  • 🎯 Concise, clinically-relevant information without unnecessary fluff
  • 💊 Useful features like Broselow tape and drug dosages

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Outdated protocols (ACLS, PALS)
  • 🐛 Subscription model confusion and access issues
  • 📱 Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • 🔄 Lack of regular updates over extended periods
  • ❌ Note-taking feature removed or non-functional

Bates' Pocket Guide

From 304 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

palmEM AI

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App crashes on latest iOS updates
  • Subscription verification fails for previous owners
  • Access denied despite full subscription status
  • App does not load on iPad
  • Note section disappeared after update
Show 3 more
  • Pages unable to open
  • Blank content display
  • Restore purchases feature not working properly

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add toxidromes section
  • Photo support in note-taking function
  • Swipe-back gesture for faster navigation
  • Procedure images or video links
  • Dark mode option
Show 3 more
  • Restore and improve note-taking functionality
  • More detailed procedure guides
  • Enhanced search capabilities

Bates' Pocket Guide

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Sectional information is wrong
  • Topics do not correlate to information
  • Asterisk information is incorrect
  • App information needs updating and reviewing
  • Software is glitchy
Show 4 more
  • Hard to navigate between topics
  • Algorithm images are mismatched with titles
  • Doesn't take Bates account
  • Didn't work (iOS 7)

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

palmEM AI

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription | Unlimited AI$9.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription | Unlimited AI7 Days trial2 variants$99.991 Year
1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

One-time1
  • Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99

Questions

Is palmEM AI free?
palmEM AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, palmEM AI or Bates' Pocket Guide?
Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. palmEM AI averages 4.2 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 from 304 ratings.
Do palmEM AI or Bates' Pocket Guide have ads?
Neither palmEM AI nor Bates' Pocket Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, palmEM AI or Bates' Pocket Guide?
palmEM AI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Bates' Pocket Guide every 11 months. Most recently, palmEM AI was updated on November 1, 2026 and Bates' Pocket Guide on November 1, 2026.

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