VentRef vs PulmTools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VentRef
A clinical reference tool for healthcare professionals managing mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. It provides information grounded in respiratory physiology and evidence-based critical care.
- Mechanical ventilation reference
- Oxygen therapy reference
- Respiratory physiology
- Evidence-based critical care
- Clinical decision support
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VentRef is a focused clinical reference for clinicians managing invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, grounded in core respiratory physiology and evidence-based critical care practice. This application is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Calculations and reference values are derived from published peer-reviewed medical literature and textbooks cited in the Sources section of the app. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding medical conditions or clinical decisions, and do not disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of information provided by this app. About Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC ("RK.MD") I'm an adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist practicing in academic medicine. I'm passionate about teaching with free, open-access medical education. Learn more on my site: https://rk.md
PulmTools
This medical app helps clinicians and students interpret blood gas results, utilize clinical calculators, and practice realistic cases. It offers tools for respiratory and critical care, with progress tracking available via a free account.
- Interpret ABGs and VBGs
- Clinical calculators and references
- Realistic case practice
- Progress tracking
- Breathing exercises
- Trend analysis
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PulmTools is a focused respiratory and critical care toolkit for clinicians and learners. Interpret ABGs and VBGs, use clinical calculators and references, practice realistic cases, and follow learning or de-identified results over time. Start without registration. Core calculators and educational content are available in guest mode, while a free account enables synchronized progress and saved trends. INTERPRET ABGs & VBGs • Enter arterial or venous blood gas values through focused workflows. • Review pH status, likely primary patterns, expected compensation, and applicable oxygenation context. • See measured values alongside a structured interpretation. • Review methodology, limitations, and linked references within applicable tools. EXPLORE RESPIRATORY & CRITICAL CARE TOOLS Use focused calculators and references for: • Ventilator mechanics, minute ventilation, and static compliance • P/F ratio, A–a gradient, ROX index, oxygenation, and ARDS context • Fick cardiac output, hemodynamics, MAP, and shock index • Oxygen tank duration and respiratory support • Umbilical cord and capillary blood gases • Asthma and pulmonology references • Pulmonary risk and clinical-reference workflows • ECMO referral context and additional critical care tools LEARN THROUGH REALISTIC CASES • Build arterial blood gas interpretation skills with ABGenius. • Practice venous blood gas patterns with VBGenius. • Receive immediate feedback and clear explanations. • Use adaptive review and spaced repetition to revisit concepts that need more practice. • Follow accuracy, streaks, review readiness, and learning progress. SAVE & COMPARE TRENDS With a free account, you can: • Save calculator snapshots using non-identifying case aliases. • Compare measurements over time while retaining relevant clinical context. • Open focused trend analyses for supported tools. • Sync learning progress and saved trends across devices. RESET & REFOCUS Use PulmReset and guided Box Breathing for breathing practice and personal reflection between demanding moments. WHO PULMTOOLS IS FOR Designed for respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, students, residents, fellows, and other respiratory and critical care learners. IMPORTANT INFORMATION PulmTools is intended for educational, informational, and clinical-reference purposes. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace professional medical judgment, institutional protocols, validated equipment measurements, or bedside assessment. Independently verify calculations, source inputs, and clinical decisions. Consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions. Do not enter patient names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, or other directly identifying information when saving cases.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: PulmTools at every 5 days against VentRef's every 3 weeks. PulmTools also leads on iOS requirement (18.5 vs 26.0). VentRef's advantage is ratings volume (44 vs 8). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for VentRef against 5.0 for PulmTools. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VentRef has 44 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
VentRef ships an update every 3 weeks, PulmTools every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VentRef | PulmTools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (44 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 44 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Rishi Kumar | Ledgeworks LLC |
Customer experience
VentRef
PulmTools
In-app purchases
VentRef
No in-app purchases
PulmTools
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VentRef free?
Is PulmTools free?
Which has better reviews, VentRef or PulmTools?
Do VentRef or PulmTools have ads?
Which is updated more often, VentRef or PulmTools?
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