Bates' Pocket Guide vs Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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*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
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App
This app provides healthcare providers with comprehensive diagnostic and clinical information on laboratory tests. It helps understand test significance, aids in patient diagnosis and treatment, and offers quick access to relevant data. Content is constantly expanding with regular updates.
- Test interpretation and clinical significance
- Point-of-care diagnostic information
- Extensive coverage of popular lab tests
- SmartSearch technology for quick retrieval
- Offline access to content
- Rich-text notes and voice memos
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"Try before you buy" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. In-App purchase required to unlock all content. Skyscape Labs written for the healthcare provider who wants to understand what a given test is, its clinical significance, and how the test can aid in patient diagnosis and treatment. Edited by a practicing clinician, Skyscape Labs provides the most extensive and most relevant diagnostic and clinical information about tests for use in the point of care environment. Skyscape Labs was specifically developed for use on mobile devices, with a consistent and intuitive format. Healthcare providers will be able to rapidly obtain a description of the test; understand its clinical utility, and see what a high or low value might mean. Skyscape Labs covers all of the most popular laboratory tests. And the breadth of content is constantly expanding, with substantial updates available every 4-6 weeks (updates free during the term of your subscription). Skyscape Labs covers these areas - Blood Chemistry - CSF Testing - Cardiology - Endocrine - Gynecology - Hematology - Hepatic - Immunology - Infectious Disease Metabolic - Nasal Testing - Neurology - Oncology - Pulmonary - Renal - Respiratory - Sputum testing - Stool Studies/Testing - Toxicology - Urine Testing - Urology SPECIAL FEATURES: Locate a disease, symptom, or medication in the fastest possible manner: - Use "Spotlight Search" from the Home screen - Tap and Hold launch icon to open the Last Topic, History, Favorites - Navigate using multiple indices - History to open frequently visited pages - Bookmarks - No internet connection is required to access the content after the initial download. - Find information quickly using powerful SmartSearch technology. - Search part of term for those hard to spell medical terms. NEVER FORGET ANYTHING: Mark topics with relevant information: - Rich-text notes - Voice memos - Annotations with scribble, doodle, or text You choose the method to note this regardless of the context you are in to ensure that the important facts are available whenever you access the topic, whether it is tomorrow or six months from now. SUBSCRIPTION : Please purchase a yearly auto-renewing subscription to receive content access and available updates. Yearly auto-renewing payments- $49.99 Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user and auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-3000 Privacy Policy - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx Publisher: Skyscape
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Bates' Pocket Guide at none against Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App's shown. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on ratings volume (301 vs 11). Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $37.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bates' Pocket Guide against 4.8 for Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bates' Pocket Guide has 301 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (301 ratings) | 4.8 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 301 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | Skyscape Medpresso Inc |
Customer experience
Bates' Pocket Guide
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App
Bugs and requests
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
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- 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
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App
- 25% off for Limited Period$37.491 Year
- Skyscape Lab 1/Y Sub offer$39.991 Year
- 20% off for Limited Period$39.991 Year
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- 15% off for Limited Period$42.491 Year
- Skyscape Lab 1/Y Sub1 Month trial$49.991 Year
- Skyscape Lab Values Medical Re$49.99
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App free?
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App?
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App?
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