# Bates' Pocket Guide vs PanceBlueprints

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PanceBlueprints at 100% against Bates' Pocket Guide's 41%. PanceBlueprints also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 14 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (301 vs 9). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PanceBlueprints sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PanceBlueprints holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bates' Pocket Guide has 301 ratings behind it against 9, 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 100% of PanceBlueprints's.

Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, PanceBlueprints fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bates' Pocket Guide | PanceBlueprints |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (301 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panceblueprints/id6744342807/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **301** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 10 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) | [Fabien Paul](https://appshunter.io/developer/6807188011) |

## What reviewers say

### Bates' Pocket Guide

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

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 |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable reference
- 🖼️ Helpful pictures for diagnosis
- 📚 Good for quick reference
- 💡 Easy to understand and logical format
- 🎯 Useful for clinicals and easy to maneuver

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Overpriced app
- 🔄 Outdated software
- 🖱️ Not user-friendly navigation
- 💸 Repeated payments required
- ❌ Incorrect information/algorithms

**Reported bugs**

- Sectional information is wrong
- Topics do not correlate to information
- Asterisk information is incorrect
- App information needs updating and reviewing
- Software is glitchy

**Requested features**

- 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


### PanceBlueprints

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panceblueprints/id6744342807)

This app helps PA students and PAs review and track their progress through medical topic lists. It offers interactive learning, a library of high-yield pearls, and trivia-style quizzes with a global leaderboard. Access content via monthly or yearly subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Interactive topic list tracking, High-yield medical pearls library, Trivia-style knowledge quizzes, Global PA leaderboard, Cross-device synchronization, Monthly and yearly subscription options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?

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

### Is PanceBlueprints free?

PanceBlueprints is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

PanceBlueprints is rated higher. Bates' Pocket Guide averages 4.8 out of 5 from 301 ratings, while PanceBlueprints averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

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

Neither Bates' Pocket Guide nor PanceBlueprints shows ads.

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

Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, and PanceBlueprints fortnightly. Most recently, Bates' Pocket Guide was updated on October 17, 2026 and PanceBlueprints on October 7, 2026.

---

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