Comparison

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.

Head to head
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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

"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

Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bates' Pocket Guide versus Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBates' Pocket GuideSkyscape Lab Values Mobile App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (301 ratings)4.8 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings301 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB47 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperUnbound Medicine, Inc.Skyscape Medpresso Inc

Customer experience

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings301 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
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

Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

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

Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App

Subscriptions5
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • 15% off for Limited Period$42.491 Year
  • Skyscape Lab 1/Y Sub1 Month trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Skyscape Lab Values Medical Re$49.99

Questions

Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App free?
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App?
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App is rated higher. Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 out of 5 from 301 ratings, while Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App averages 4.8 from 11 ratings.
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App have ads?
Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App shows ads; Bates' Pocket Guide does not.
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App?
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, and Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App every 7 months. Most recently, Bates' Pocket Guide was updated on October 17, 2026 and Skyscape Lab Values Mobile App on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons