# Bates' Pocket Guide vs MedSynapse

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bates' Pocket Guide | MedSynapse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (300 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652/reviews)** | [4.7 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsynapse/id1554232596/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **300** | 76 |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#198** | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) | [MedSynapse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1554232598) |

## What reviewers say

### Bates' Pocket Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652)

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed. | $69.99 | one-time |


### MedSynapse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsynapse/id1554232596)

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.

**Highlights:** Latest medical updates, Clinical discussions, Online webinars, CME/CEU courses, Connect with peers, Collaborate and communicate

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?

Bates' Pocket Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MedSynapse free?

MedSynapse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or MedSynapse?

Bates' Pocket Guide is rated higher. Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 out of 5 from 300 ratings, while MedSynapse averages 4.7 from 76 ratings.

### Do Bates' Pocket Guide or MedSynapse have ads?

Neither Bates' Pocket Guide nor MedSynapse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or MedSynapse?

Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, and MedSynapse every 2 months. Most recently, Bates' Pocket Guide was updated on September 23, 2026 and MedSynapse on July 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*