Comparison

iCU Notes vs Makindo Medicine

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 3,000+ concise medical topics
  • Clinically focused content
  • Quick Title Search
  • Powerful Super-Search
  • Exam preparation aid
  • Reference for ward rounds and clinic
Features
Read full description

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.

Screenshots

iCU Notes3 screens
Makindo Medicine4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
iCU Notes versus Makindo Medicine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCU NotesMakindo Medicine
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12 ratings)4.9 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB41 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperDocNotes LtdPocketmednotes.com

Customer experience

iCU Notes

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Makindo Medicine

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iCU Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Makindo Medicine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCU Notes free?
iCU Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Makindo Medicine free?
Makindo Medicine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCU Notes or Makindo Medicine?
Makindo Medicine is rated higher. iCU Notes averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Makindo Medicine averages 4.9 from 11 ratings.
Do iCU Notes or Makindo Medicine have ads?
Neither iCU Notes nor Makindo Medicine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCU Notes or Makindo Medicine?
iCU Notes ships an update every 10 months, and Makindo Medicine every 8 days. Most recently, iCU Notes was updated on November 1, 2026 and Makindo Medicine on November 3, 2026.

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