# Read by QxMD vs ClinicalKey

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Read by QxMD at 89% against ClinicalKey's 9%. Read by QxMD also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). ClinicalKey's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Read by QxMD ships an update monthly, ClinicalKey every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read by QxMD | ClinicalKey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **89.0% of reviews** | 8.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 205 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | +12 |
| Developer | [WebMD](https://appshunter.io/developer/295076332) | [Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/367031326) |

## What reviewers say

### Read by QxMD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839)

Access and organize the latest medical research and topic reviews in a personalized digital journal. Stay updated with new scientific findings and easily retrieve full-text PDFs from PubMed and other sources.

**Highlights:** Personalized digital medical journal, Access latest medical research, Read topic reviews, Search PubMed, Full-text PDF access, Organize article collection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient access to latest research
- 👍 Customizable journal and keyword tracking
- 🔒 Institutional access integration
- 💡 Convenient PDF downloads
- 👍 Helpful for staying up-to-date

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Institutional access issues
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 📤 Difficulty sharing articles

**Reported bugs**

- Login and authentication problems
- Inconsistent app performance after updates
- Inability to access full-text articles
- Syncing issues between devices
- Unreliable article refresh functionality

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to annotate and highlight PDFs
- Improved article organization and collections
- Integration with reference managers (e.g. Zotero, Mendeley)
- Enhanced search and filtering capabilities


### ClinicalKey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clinicalkey/id1041998175)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 High-quality, evidence-based clinical content
- 🎯 Intuitive interface and quick reference format
- 🔍 Similar functionality to website version
- 👍 Browse feature restoration appreciated by users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔓 Constant forced logout issues
- 🔐 Institutional login authentication failures
- ⏳ App freezes and perpetual loading screens
- 🚫 Missing textbook access in app vs website
- 📵 Frequent crashes and force closures

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read by QxMD free?

Read by QxMD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ClinicalKey free?

ClinicalKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Read by QxMD or ClinicalKey have ads?

Read by QxMD shows ads; ClinicalKey does not.

### Which is updated more often, Read by QxMD or ClinicalKey?

Read by QxMD ships an update monthly, and ClinicalKey every 5 weeks. Most recently, Read by QxMD was updated on November 6, 2026 and ClinicalKey on November 11, 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.*