Bates' Pocket Guide vs Explain Medicine
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
Explain Medicine
A quick medical reference for professionals and students, offering evidence-based explanations for over 700 diseases. Ideal for rapid information retrieval during rounds or exam preparation.
- Medical reference for professionals
- Explanations for over 700 diseases
- Evidence-based information
- Fast and easy to use
- Designed for students
- Quick answers for rounds
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Explain Medicine is a fast, easy-to-use medical reference designed for busy professionals and students. Get straight-to-the-point, evidence-based explanations on over 700 diseases without the fluff. Whether you need a quick answer on rounds or are cramming for an exam, we've got your back. IMPORTANT: Explain Medicine is a medical reference designed for use by medical professionals and students. It is not intended for use by patients or for self-diagnosis.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bates' Pocket Guide at 4.8 against Explain Medicine's 4.2. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on ratings volume (300 vs 13) and chart position (#198 vs unranked). Explain Medicine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. Explain Medicine asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bates' Pocket Guide has 300 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's written reviews are positive against 33% of Explain Medicine's.
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, Explain Medicine every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | Explain Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (300 ratings) — better | 4.2 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 300 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #198 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 89 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | Medical Joyworks LLC |
Customer experience
Bates' Pocket Guide
Explain Medicine
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
Explain Medicine
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is Explain Medicine free?
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or Explain Medicine?
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or Explain Medicine have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or Explain Medicine?
Other comparisons
