Comparison

QuickEM vs RXFiles +

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

QuickEM

This emergency medicine reference app provides clinicians with instant access to critical information, including differentials, treatments, and validated medical calculators. It's designed for rapid lookup of ED-specific care, organized by chief complaints and clinical categories, and works completely offline.

Highlights
  • 80+ chief complaint topics
  • 90+ medical calculators
  • Offline access
  • No login or ads
  • Adult and pediatric coverage
  • Evidence-based content
  • Customizable favorites
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Essential Emergency Medicine Reference Trusted by Clinicians QuickEM is the comprehensive bedside companion designed by emergency physicians for emergency physicians. Whether you're a medical student on your first ED rotation or an attending managing a busy department, QuickEM delivers the critical information you need—instantly. Built for Real Emergency Medicine • Over 80 chief complaint topics with differentials, history, tests, and treatments focused on ED-specific care • Over 90 validated medical calculators / tools • No login required • Zero fluff—only ED-relevant information Organized by How You Think • Chief complaints structured by presentation • Calculators grouped by clinical category • Smart search finds tools • Customizable favorites list for your go-to references Trusted by Every Level • Medical Students: Essential differentials and workup basics • Residents: Quick access to decision rules and scoring systems • Attendings: Rapid reference for less common presentations and 2nd brain refreshers Key Features: • Complete offline access—works without internet • No ads, no subscriptions, no account required • Covers adult and pediatric emergency medicine • Includes trauma protocols and resuscitation guides • Evidence-based content with source citations • Professional medical illustrations and ECG examples Content Highlights: • Cardiovascular: HEART Score, CHADS2-VASc, Wells Criteria • Neurological: NIHSS, Canadian Head CT Rules, HINTS Exam • Trauma: NEXUS, Canadian C-Spine, PECARN • Pediatrics: PEDS Vitals, Croup Score, Bronchiolitis • Toxicology: Rumack-Matthew, CIWA-Ar, Anion Gap • And more! Developed by practicing emergency physicians who understand what you need at 3 AM with multiple critical patients. QuickEM is designed to be the fastest way to look up the info you need. This app is designed exclusively for medical professionals and students. Not intended for patient or public use.

About

RXFiles +

This app provides comprehensive drug comparison charts for medical professionals. It offers detailed information on drug names, strengths, formulations, contraindications, side effects, interactions, dosing, and costs, aiding in therapeutic decision-making.

Highlights
  • Over 106 drug comparison charts
  • Detailed drug information
  • Therapeutic approach guidance
  • Contraindications and side effects
  • Dosing and cost information
  • Searchable by medical categories
Features
Read full description

RxFiles Drug Comparison Charts – App for iPad / iPhone The RxFiles App contains > 106 drug comparison charts (>2100 entries on index pages) in a variety of medical therapeutic areas. The charts are identical to those published in our RxFiles Drug Comparison Charts book. Content for the app is continually updated automatically. RxFiles is an independent provider of objective, comparative drug information and education in Canada. We sift through the evidence, expert opinion and marketing hype in search of a balanced, evidence based and clinically relevant summary of drug information useful for therapeutic decision making. We do not receive any funding from the pharmaceutical industry. Funding comes from a grant to provide academic detailing to physicians in Saskatchewan, with additional “not-for-profit” revenue from sale of books, electronic information and services. Current topic areas focus on drug use in primary care including: cardiology, dermatology, endocrine/diabetes, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, infectious disease, musculoskeletal/pain, neurology, gynecology, psychiatry, respiratory and a variety of other miscellaneous topic areas. More information on drug and therapeutic areas covered is available from our website. What’s in a chart: *Guidance on therapeutic approaches, from evidence based reviews, guidelines and clinical opinion *Drug names (including major brand names), strengths and formulations *Contraindications, side effects and drug interactions focusing on those most relevant to drug selection and individualization of therapy *Various dosing information (initial, typical maintenance, maximum) and typical cost in Canada *Advantages, disadvantages and special considerations for various drugs. A word on the “density” of information. The drug charts are packed full of information as a place to make multiple comparisons on one or two pages. Thus, those who like them, love them for the reason that there is a lot of comparative and clinical detail packed onto the page; however, for those who are used to larger fonts and spacious formatting, these charts will take a bit of getting used to. The charts will be most useful for the larger screen of the iPad, but will also work with the iPhone and iTouch. Searching the RxFiles information has been enhanced for this app. The app is sorted by medical system categories or through an auto-populated index. The app is designed as an annual subscription providing ongoing use and updates for one year. We have attempted to provide value for the lowest cost possible that allows for ongoing maintenance and development of this information. Additional newsletters, Q&As and clinical trial summaries are available from our website. This App enhances utility of RxFiles, for which a subscription is required which must be renewed on a yearly basis.

Screenshots

QuickEM4 screens
RXFiles +4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RXFiles + at Free against QuickEM's $9.99. RXFiles + also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). QuickEM's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

RXFiles + is free to download; QuickEM costs $9.99 up front. QuickEM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RXFiles + asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RXFiles + holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QuickEM has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of QuickEM's written reviews are positive against 50% of RXFiles +'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QuickEM ships an update every 2 months, RXFiles + every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
QuickEM versus RXFiles +: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQuickEMRXFiles +
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (10 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings10 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#27 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB33 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperDirkes Medical, PLLCUniversity of Saskatchewan - RxFiles

Customer experience

QuickEM

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative0.0%

RXFiles +

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

QuickEM

One-time1
  • Premium Features$2.99
None

RXFiles +

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is QuickEM free?
QuickEM costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is RXFiles + free?
RXFiles + is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, QuickEM or RXFiles +?
RXFiles + is rated higher. QuickEM averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while RXFiles + averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do QuickEM or RXFiles + have ads?
Neither QuickEM nor RXFiles + shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QuickEM or RXFiles +?
QuickEM ships an update every 2 months, and RXFiles + every 6 months. Most recently, QuickEM was updated on October 26, 2026 and RXFiles + on October 24, 2026.

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