# Bates' Pocket Guide vs FP Notebook

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bates' Pocket Guide at free with in-app purchases against FP Notebook's subscription. FP Notebook's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and review sentiment (58% vs 41%). On price, rating, 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 FP Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bates' Pocket Guide against 4.8 for FP Notebook. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FP Notebook has 3.3K ratings behind it against 300, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Bates' Pocket Guide's written reviews are positive against 58% of FP Notebook's.

Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, FP Notebook every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bates' Pocket Guide | FP Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (300 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bates-pocket-guide/id650795652/reviews) | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fp-notebook/id835973313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 300 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | **58.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #198 | **#49** |
| Size | 10 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) | [Atmosphere Apps, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/334077424) |

## 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 |


### FP Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fp-notebook/id835973313)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

A comprehensive medical reference for primary care and emergency clinicians, offering rapid access to over 6100 interlinked topic pages. Content is updated monthly through literature reviews and conferences, providing up-to-date information for medical professionals.

**Highlights:** Rapid access medical reference, Over 6100 interlinked topic pages, Content updated monthly, 31 specialty books, 700+ chapters, Point-of-care tool

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual Sub | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent, comprehensive medical reference
- ⚡️ Efficient, concise, and easy to use
- 🧠 Invaluable for medical students, residents, and practitioners
- 🤝 Highly recommended by users
- 🕰️ Frequently used and relied upon for years

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model frustrates some users who previously had free access
- 🐞 Occasional app freezing or crashing issues reported
- 🔍 Built-in search function could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing or crashing on certain devices
- Subscription issues or unexpected charges

**Requested features**

- Ability to earn continuing education credits through the app
- Improved search functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?

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

### Is FP Notebook free?

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

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

Bates' Pocket Guide and FP Notebook are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 300 and 3.3K ratings respectively.

### Do Bates' Pocket Guide or FP Notebook have ads?

Neither Bates' Pocket Guide nor FP Notebook shows ads.

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

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

### Which is more popular, Bates' Pocket Guide or FP Notebook?

Bates' Pocket Guide currently peaks at #198 in the App Store charts, and FP Notebook at #49. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*