# RNotes® vs MedSurg Notes

The clearest difference is rating: RNotes® at 4.5 against MedSurg Notes's 3.9. RNotes® also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (41 vs 11). MedSurg Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RNotes® sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and MedSurg Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $32.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RNotes® holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 11 respectively.

RNotes® ships an update every 7 months, MedSurg Notes every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | RNotes® | MedSurg Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rnotes/id940109641/reviews)** | [3.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsurg-notes-nurse-pkt-guide/id1613473454/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unbound Medicine, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300420400) | [Skyscape Medpresso Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/818609416) |

## What reviewers say

### RNotes®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rnotes/id940109641)

This clinical reference app provides nurses and students with quick access to essential medical information, including guidelines, procedures, and exam preparation tools. It features full-color images, charts, and customizable notes to enhance patient care and learning.

**Highlights:** Quick-reference clinical nursing information, Updated AHA guidelines, Full-color images and charts, NCLEX exam topic indicators, Step-by-step procedures and assessment guidance, Customizable notes and highlights, Nursing alerts for critical safety information

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RNotes® 4th Edition | $29.99 | one-time |
| RNotes® 5th Edition | $29.99 | one-time |
| RNotes | $29.99 | one-time |


### MedSurg Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsurg-notes-nurse-pkt-guide/id1613473454)

This app provides on-the-spot guidance for identifying and treating urgent medical-surgical conditions. It covers advanced nursing procedures, organized by symptom and diagnosis, with detailed interventions and assessments. An A&P snapshot and focused assessment tools are included for each condition.

**Highlights:** Covers over 65 medical-surgical conditions, Systems approach organized by symptom/diagnosis, Detailed interventions and follow-up care, Anatomy & Physiology snapshots, Focused assessment tools, IV therapy review, Offline access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Med Surg Notes 1/Y sub | $32.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RNotes® free?

RNotes® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MedSurg Notes free?

MedSurg Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RNotes® or MedSurg Notes?

RNotes® is rated higher. RNotes® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while MedSurg Notes averages 3.9 from 11 ratings.

### Do RNotes® or MedSurg Notes have ads?

MedSurg Notes shows ads; RNotes® does not.

### Which is updated more often, RNotes® or MedSurg Notes?

RNotes® ships an update every 7 months, and MedSurg Notes every 6 months. Most recently, RNotes® was updated on October 24, 2026 and MedSurg Notes on October 24, 2026.

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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.*