Bates' Pocket Guide vs Hippo Education
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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Hippo Education
Access high-yield medical content through a podcast player designed for efficient learning. Earn CME credits by listening to practice-changing information and the latest research, saving you time and keeping you updated.
- Monthly RAP episodes
- Practice-changing information
- Searchable content
- Bookmark and download
- Earn CME credits
- Lifelong learning
Read full descriptionHide full description
Straight talk about medicine in a groundbreaking podcast player from Hippo Education. High yield. No nonsense. This app includes monthly RAP episodes that cover everything you need to know, including practice-changing information, and the latest papers for lifelong learning. Save time by listening on any device, anytime. Search for specifics or browse relevant topics. Bookmark and download content for quick reference. Automatically earn up to 42 AMA Category 1™ CME credits per year just by listening; it's that easy. *Content availability is dependent on the subscription package.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hippo Education at none against Bates' Pocket Guide's 1. Hippo Education also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 304). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 22%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Hippo Education asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bates' Pocket Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 304 and 1.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's written reviews are positive against 22% of Hippo Education's.
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 11 months, Hippo Education fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | Hippo Education |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (304 ratings) — better | 4.6 (1.3K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews — better | 21.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 304 | 1.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | Hippo Education, Inc. |
Customer experience
Bates' Pocket Guide
Hippo Education
User reviews
Bates' Pocket Guide
From 304 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Reliable reference
- 🖼️ Helpful pictures for diagnosis
- 📚 Good for quick reference
- 💡 Easy to understand and logical format
- 🎯 Useful for clinicals and easy to maneuver
Room to improve
- 💰 Overpriced app
- 🔄 Outdated software
- 🖱️ Not user-friendly navigation
- 💸 Repeated payments required
- ❌ Incorrect information/algorithms
Hippo Education
From 1.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Frequent updates
- 👍 Great content and presentation
- 💡 Potential for CarPlay integration
- 👍 Helpful summaries
- 👍 Entertaining and informative
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable playback and progress tracking
- 🐛 Frequent log-outs and login issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent search and navigation
- 🐛 Difficulty accessing downloaded content offline
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 moreShow fewer
- 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
Hippo Education
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashes on launch
- Playback stops unexpectedly
- Inconsistent episode tracking
- Search results do not match content
- Difficulty accessing downloaded content
Requested features
5 requests- Allow streaming on other apps
- Improve search and sorting functionality
- Add ability to mark episodes as played
- Implement CarPlay support
- Streamline login and session management
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
Hippo Education
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is Hippo Education free?
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or Hippo Education?
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or Hippo Education have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or Hippo Education?
Other comparisons
