Bates' Pocket Guide vs DDx
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
DDx
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DDx is a fast, offline differential diagnosis lookup tool — like a textbook in your pocket. Open any symptom and see a ranked list of diagnoses, with don't-miss conditions surfaced first. Built for medical students, residents, and clinicians who want a no-frills educational reference at the bedside. In the same category as Diagnosaurus. WHAT'S INSIDE • 375 symptoms across 17 body systems • 6,148 differentials, ranked by probability and urgency • Don't-miss diagnoses highlighted in red • ICD-10 codes for the most common conditions • Search by symptom name, synonym, ICD-10, or diagnosis • Generated PubMed search references on every diagnosis • Bookmark symptoms for quick recall Unlock the workflow tools that keep you moving fast: • Five clinical scoring calculators — HEART (chest pain risk), Wells (DVT pre-test probability), PERC (PE rule-out), CURB-65 (pneumonia severity), Modified Centor (strep pharyngitis) • Reverse condition lookup — find every symptom a diagnosis can present with • Patient-context filters — age and sex chips on every symptom • All future content and feature updates included The core differential diagnosis lookup stays free, forever. DESIGNED FOR THE BEDSIDE • Built for iPhone and iPad with full Dark Mode — true near-black for dim wards • Triage-board layout: hairline rules, ranked numerals, urgency-only color • 100% offline after install — no account, no sign-up, no tracking, no ads • Universal app: one purchase covers iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE — IMPORTANT DDx is an educational reference. It is NOT a medical device, does NOT provide individualized medical advice, and is NOT a clinical decision support system. The content is generated from medical literature and may contain inaccuracies. Always verify against primary sources. Any clinical action remains the sole responsibility of the qualified clinician caring for the patient. PRIVACY DDx never collects, transmits, or stores personal data. No account. No analytics. No tracking. Bookmarks live on your device only. LICENSE Use of DDx is governed by Apple's Licensed Application End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Bates' Pocket Guide at 4 against DDx's 2. Bates' Pocket Guide also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Bates' Pocket Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DDx sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | DDx |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (304 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 304 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | Medicon Apps |
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
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- 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
DDx
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
DDx
- DDx Pro$9.99
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is DDx free?
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or DDx have ads?
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