Bates' Pocket Guide vs AudioDigest
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
AudioDigest
Access high-quality audio continuing medical education content designed for physicians. Earn CME/MOC credits directly within the app, track your progress, and stay updated on the latest clinical advancements. Features enhanced content discovery and efficient navigation.
- Access digital CME content
- Earn CME/MOC credits
- Downloadable transcripts
- Credit tracker dashboard
- Content filtering and sorting
- Discover new content
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Newly enhanced features help you get even more from AudioDigest®. Save time accessing content - Use tabs to find content you last played, downloaded, or added from Search. - Quickly locate content with improved filtering and sorting features. - Discover new content as it becomes available. Stay on top of licensure and state requirements - Earn CME/MOC directly within the app, including downloading or emailing transcripts. - Map your progress toward state and topic requirements on the credit tracker dashboard. - Discover an all-inclusive solution to track multiple state requirements. - Automatically report your MOC points to your specialty board. About AudioDigest® AudioDigest is fully accredited by the ACCME® to provide continuing medical education for physicians. A premier provider of quality audio CME since 1952, AudioDigest conveniently delivers a steady stream of current content that’s relevant to your practice, keeping you up to date on the latest clinical advancements and improving patient outcomes. AudioDigest publishes unbiased scientific and clinical courses, presented by experts from world-class institutions. Each Audio Digest CME/CE audio course is carefully selected, recorded, and edited to ensure the highest quality educational and listening experience. Your feedback makes AudioDigest even better. Please share comments or suggestions on the in-app feedback form, or email feedback@audio-digest.org. If you’re having problems with login, please contact us at 800 423 2308.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: AudioDigest at every 2 months against Bates' Pocket Guide's every 14 months. AudioDigest also leads on ratings volume (2.5K vs 300). Bates' Pocket Guide's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 19%) and chart position (#198 vs unranked). On price, rating, 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 AudioDigest sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. 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 4.7 for AudioDigest. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioDigest has 2.5K 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 19% of AudioDigest's.
Bates' Pocket Guide ships an update every 14 months, AudioDigest every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bates' Pocket Guide | AudioDigest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (300 ratings) — better | 4.7 (2.5K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews — better | 18.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 300 | 2.5K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| 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 | 202 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Unbound Medicine, Inc. | LDI BCM LLC |
Customer experience
Bates' Pocket Guide
AudioDigest
Bugs and requests
Bates' Pocket Guide
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
AudioDigest
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashes on startup
- Inability to complete pre and post-tests
- Lectures not loading or playing correctly
- Syncing issues between devices
- CME credits not properly tracked or awarded
Requested features
5 requests- Improve app stability and reliability
- Redesign user interface for better usability
- Provide more up-to-date and relevant content
- Enhance search and browsing capabilities
- Optimize app performance for seamless experience
In-app purchases
Bates' Pocket Guide
- Bates' Pocket Guide 9th ed.$69.99
AudioDigest
- Lecture Valid for 0.25 Credits$9.99
- Lecture Valid for 0.5 Credits$9.99
- Lecture Valid for 0.75 Credits$9.99
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- Lecture Valid for 0 Credits$9.99
- Lecture Valid for 1 Credit$12.99
- Lecture Valid for 1.25 Credits$15.99
- Lecture Valid for 1.5 Credits$19.99
- Lecture Valid for 1.75 Credits$24.99
- Lecture Valid for 2 Credits$24.99
- Board-Review Credit Lecture$34.99
Questions
Is Bates' Pocket Guide free?
Is AudioDigest free?
Which has better reviews, Bates' Pocket Guide or AudioDigest?
Do Bates' Pocket Guide or AudioDigest have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bates' Pocket Guide or AudioDigest?
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