Bates' Pocket Guide vs MedSynapse
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
MedSynapse
Access the latest medical updates and engage in clinical discussions relevant to your specialty. This app offers online webinars and CME/CEU courses for convenient professional development. Connect, collaborate, and communicate with peers through a single mobile platform.
- Latest medical updates
- Clinical discussions
- Online webinars
- CME/CEU courses
- Connect with peers
- Collaborate and communicate
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The latest medical updates and clinical discussions on MedSynapse help you stay on top in your specialty, without the hassle of sorting through tons of medical journals. You can also take webinars and online CME/CEU from the comfort of your home. Connect, Collaborate and Communicate by downloading one single app on your mobile phone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MedSynapse at none against Bates' Pocket Guide's 1. MedSynapse also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 41%). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is chart position (#198 vs unranked) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, 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. MedSynapse asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bates' Pocket Guide against 4.7 for MedSynapse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 300 and 76 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's written reviews are positive against 67% of MedSynapse's.
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, MedSynapse every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | MedSynapse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (300 ratings) — better | 4.7 (76 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 300 — better | 76 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #198 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | MedSynapse |
Customer experience
Bates' Pocket Guide
MedSynapse
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
MedSynapse
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is MedSynapse free?
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