Comparison

Bates' Pocket Guide vs MobilEM

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
Currently charting
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

MobilEM

Provides fast, evidence-based clinical guidance for emergency medicine professionals. Access updated recommendations on a wide range of topics, including antibiotics, toxicology, and critical care. Offers free content, individual purchases, and an all-access subscription.

Highlights
  • Evidence-based recommendations
  • Antibiotic and toxicology guidance
  • EKG and orthopedic injury protocols
  • Airway and pediatric emergency management
  • Critical care medication information
  • Fast navigation and universal search
  • Bookmarking and note-taking
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

One of our greatest privileges at EMRA is offering resources that can help make every clinical shift easier, through evidence-based guidance in your pocket. Get updated recommendations for antibiotics, toxicology, EKGs, orthopedic injuries, airway management, pediatric emergencies, splinting, critical care medications, and more. Enjoy free content, purchase our resources a la carte, or subscribe to our all-access pass (best value!) to take full advantage of these key features: • Fast, easy navigation • Powerful universal search • Bookmarking • Note-taking fields • Continual updates that require no action on your part We hope you find MobilEM to be useful; check back often, as we will be adding new content on a regular basis. Please note: EMRA is committed to your privacy. See our policy at https://www.emra.org/about-emra/privacy-policy/. Terms of Use: This and all other digital reference content, including all content offered under subscription is intended for a single user on devices belonging to that user. Use of this app running on a common device shared by an organization is disallowed. For further information on terms of use and EULA please see: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ This app is intended for the US healthcare market.

Screenshots

Bates' Pocket Guide4 screens
MobilEM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bates' Pocket Guide at 4.8 against MobilEM's 3.6. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on ratings volume (300 vs 39). MobilEM's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and chart position (#39 vs #198). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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 MobilEM sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bates' Pocket Guide has 300 ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's written reviews are positive against 45% of MobilEM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, MobilEM every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Bates' Pocket Guide versus MobilEM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBates' Pocket GuideMobilEM
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (300 ratings) — better3.6 (39 ratings)
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews45.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings300 — better39
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#198#39 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB205 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperUnbound Medicine, Inc.Emergency Medicine Residents' Association

Customer experience

Bates' Pocket Guide

All ratings300 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral13.6%
Negative45.5%

MobilEM

All ratings39 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral10.3%
Negative28.2%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive45.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Bates' Pocket Guide

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

MobilEM

Subscriptions12
  • Ventilator Mgmt. Subscription$1.991 Year
  • Pediatric Qwic$1.991 Year
  • MobilEm Airway Management$4.991 Year
Show 9 more
  • Trauma Guide$4.991 Year
  • Antibiotic Guide Subscription$9.991 Year
  • MobilEm Ortho Guide$9.991 Year
  • MobilEM Tox Guide$9.991 Year
  • PressorDex$9.991 Year
  • EKG Guide Subscription$9.991 Year
  • Pain Management$9.991 Year
  • PEM Fundamentals Subscription$9.991 Year
  • MobilEm All Access Pass1 Month trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MobilEM free?
MobilEM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or MobilEM?
Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 out of 5 from 300 ratings, while MobilEM averages 3.6 from 39 ratings.
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or MobilEM have ads?
Neither Bates' Pocket Guide nor MobilEM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or MobilEM?
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, and MobilEM every 2 months. Most recently, Bates' Pocket Guide was updated on September 23, 2026 and MobilEM on September 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Bates' Pocket Guide or MobilEM?
Bates' Pocket Guide currently peaks at #198 in the App Store charts, and MobilEM at #39. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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