iCU Notes vs Makindo Medicine
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iCU Notes
A comprehensive pocket guide for critical care professionals, offering quick access to essential concepts, algorithms, and management strategies. Features include detailed modules, smart search, and evidence-based recommendations.
- 11 modules on critical care concepts
- Alphabetized and smart search functionality
- Over 80 color illustrations
- 30+ clinical ICU guideline overviews
- 18 emergency algorithms
- Differential diagnoses and management strategies
- Evidence-based recommendations
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iCU Notes is a critical care handbook aimed at all clinicians, nursing staff and allied health professionals who work in critical care, as well as those working on acute medical and surgical wards. It is designed to be used as a pocket guide to improve knowledge and understanding of critical care concepts. Key features : *11 modules covering theoretical and practical aspects of general and emergency critical care *Content alphabetised for ease of use *Concise, find-it-fast format with additional smart search function to speed information finding *Over 80 colour illustrations to clarify monitoring and therapeutic techniques in critical care *Over 30 compact clinical ICU guideline overviews *18 emergency algorithms including ALS, obstetric, sepsis and difficult airway (DAS) algorithms *A complete section on differential diagnoses in critical care including organ support alarms *A complete section on current management strategies in critical care as well as additional modules on microbiology and critical care pharmacology *Evidence based recommendations by the ESICM included in red text within appropriate subsections *Summaries of important papers published in hi impact factor journals over the last 7 years *A list of educational online resources that can be accessed directly from within the app *More modules planned in the future to eventually cover all clinical and non-clinical aspects of critical care *It's completely free ! Module Content BASIC CRITICAL CARE MODULE Covers all basic principles of critical care, including: Assessment of the critically ill patient Basic CNS Pathophysiology Neuromonitoring Basic Cardiovascular Physiology Fluids, Inotropes and Vasopressors Cardiovascular Monitoring Acute Liver Failure Nutrition Sepsis Acute Renal Failure and Renal Replacement Therapy Basic Respiratory support and monitoring MANAGEMENT and TREATMENT ALGORITHMS MODULE CNS: Meningitis, GBS, Encephalopathy - Septic / Hepatic, SAH, Critical Care Neuromyopathy, Myasthenia Gravis CVS: Persistent sinus tachycardia, AF, LVF, Bradycardia, Shock, SBE, RVF , Hypotension, Diastolic Dysfunction, Cardiac Arrest, Hypertensive Crises DRUGS and TOXINS: Opiate infusion withdrawal, Poisoning, Cocaine, ETOH, Isopropyl Alcohol ENDOCRINE: DKA, Hyponatraemia, Hypothyroidism, HHS, Addison's Disease, Diabetes Insipidus GIT: GI Bleed, Nutrition, TPN and EN, Re-feeding syndrome, Abdominal Compartment Syndrome HAEM: DIC, HIT, Jehovah's Witness, Bleeding , Coagulopathy of Trauma, Sickle cell disease INFECTION: Care Bundles, Malaria, Necrotising Fasciitis, Severe Sepsis, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Pyrexia on ITU OBSTETRICS: Eclampsia, PPH, HELLP, Pre-eclampsia RENAL: ARF, Drug handling in renal failure, Metabolic Acidosis, Haemofiltration, Haemodialysis, Complications of CRF RS: Ventilator Modes, Tracheostomy, Weaning, ARDS, Bronchopulmonary fistula, COPD/Asthma, CAP, Bronchiectasis, Lobar Collapse, Pneumothorax, PE, Upper Airway Obstruction, VAP, Pleural Effusion, Haemoptysis TRAUMA: Rhabdomyolysis, Extremity Injury, Chest Trauma, Pulseless limb, Pelvic Trauma, TBI, Spinal Cord Injury, Burns, Blast Injuries, Abdominal Trauma, Neck trauma VASCULITIS: SLE, Wegener's Granulomatosis EMERGENCIES MODULE Covers ALS, DAS Obstetric and Sepsis management guidelines and algorithms CAUSES and DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES MODULE Over 180 lists of causes and differential diagnoses covering common conditions seen on the ICU and grouped under the following headings : Organ systems Biochemistry Organ support alarms Infection (inc. HIV) Trauma New Modules: MICROBIOLOGY MODULE Covering the most important organisms associated with critical care admissions, within the following genii: Bacteria Fungi Viruses FORMULARY MODULE Covers the class, mode of action, route and dose of administration, excretion, indications, side effects and major contraindications of the drugs most frequently used in critical care Author: Murali Thavasothy Developer: Dal Sandhu
Makindo Medicine
Access over 3,000 concise medical topics for quick reference during ward rounds, clinic, or exam preparation. Powerful search functionality allows for rapid retrieval of clinical facts and rare terms.
- 3,000+ concise medical topics
- Clinically focused content
- Quick Title Search
- Powerful Super-Search
- Exam preparation aid
- Reference for ward rounds and clinic
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Makindo Medicine gives you instant access to 3,000+ concise, clinically focused topics—perfect for ward rounds, clinic, MCQs, and exam prep (Finals, MRCP, USMLE). Use quick Title Search or the powerful Super-Search to scan 2,000+ pages of facts and find exactly what you need in seconds—even for rare terms. Built for medical students, doctors who want trusted, high-yield educational notes at their fingertips—on the ward, on the commute, or between patients.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Makindo Medicine at every 8 days against iCU Notes's every 10 months. iCU Notes's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Makindo Medicine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of iCU Notes's written reviews are positive against 88% of Makindo Medicine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
iCU Notes ships an update every 10 months, Makindo Medicine every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iCU Notes | Makindo Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12 ratings) | 4.9 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 87.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | DocNotes Ltd | Pocketmednotes.com |
Customer experience
iCU Notes
Makindo Medicine
In-app purchases
iCU Notes
No in-app purchases
Makindo Medicine
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iCU Notes free?
Is Makindo Medicine free?
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