# Mosby's Drug Reference vs IV Medications Elsevier

The clearest difference is ads: Mosby's Drug Reference at none against IV Medications Elsevier's shown. Mosby's Drug Reference also leads on ratings volume (235 vs 72). IV Medications Elsevier's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mosby's Drug Reference sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $45.99 per year and IV Medications Elsevier sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $25.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Mosby's Drug Reference against 4.6 for IV Medications Elsevier. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 235 and 72 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 32% of Mosby's Drug Reference's written reviews are positive against 33% of IV Medications Elsevier's.

Mosby's Drug Reference ships an update every 9 months, IV Medications Elsevier every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mosby's Drug Reference | IV Medications Elsevier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (235 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mosbys-drug-reference/id959042883/reviews) | **[4.6 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iv-medications-elsevier/id1143476433/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **235** | 72 |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | 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

### Mosby's Drug Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mosbys-drug-reference/id959042883)

This app provides healthcare professionals with comprehensive drug information, including actions, usage, dosage, interactions, and side effects. It emphasizes patient safety with Black Box Warnings, Safety Alerts, and information on life-threatening side effects. Features include custom notes, highlights, and quick search functionality.

**Highlights:** Over 5,000 drug listings, Black Box Warnings and Safety Alerts, Drug action, usage, dosage, interactions, side effects, Custom notes and highlights, Full text search, Appendix of recent FDA-approvals

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mosby's Drug Reference | $45.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great reference for nursing students
- 👍 Reliable resource for medication information
- 👍 Invaluable for looking up drugs quickly
- 👍 Helpful for answering patient questions
- 👍 Easy and best to use mobile drug reference

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Routinely does not have drugs
- 😞 Not for Canadian market
- 😞 Not categorized and searchable
- 😞 Cannot customize info display
- 😞 Most patients' meds weren't there

**Reported bugs**

- Every time I search norco or hydrocodone hydrochlorothiazide comes up

**Requested features**

- Version for people in the dental field
- Create an app version for dental drug reference
- Separate favorites list for users and spouses


### IV Medications Elsevier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iv-medications-elsevier/id1143476433)

This comprehensive IV drug handbook provides nurses and health professionals with up-to-date information on over 400 intravenous drugs. It features quick-access monographs, highlighted warnings, and life-stage dosage variances to ensure safe and accurate medication administration.

**Highlights:** Over 400 IV drug monographs, New FDA-approved drug updates, Highlighted Black Box Warnings, Life stage dosage variances, Alphabetical drug format, Annual publication

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elsevier’s IV Med HBK 3/M Sub | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| Elsevier’s IV Med HBK 6M Sub | $32.99 | per 6 months |
| 25% Off-Elsevier IVMed 1Y Sub | $37.49 | per year |
| Elsevier IV Med HBK 1Y Sub off | $39.99 | per year |
| 20% Off-Elsevier IVMed 1Y Sub | $39.99 | per year |
| 15% Off-Elsevier IVMed 1Y Sub | $42.49 | per year |
| Elsevier’s IV Med HBK 1Y Sub | $49.99 | per year |
| Intravenous Medications 2022 | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mosby's Drug Reference free?

Mosby's Drug Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is IV Medications Elsevier free?

IV Medications Elsevier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mosby's Drug Reference or IV Medications Elsevier?

IV Medications Elsevier is rated higher. Mosby's Drug Reference averages 4.6 out of 5 from 235 ratings, while IV Medications Elsevier averages 4.6 from 72 ratings.

### Do Mosby's Drug Reference or IV Medications Elsevier have ads?

IV Medications Elsevier shows ads; Mosby's Drug Reference does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mosby's Drug Reference or IV Medications Elsevier?

Mosby's Drug Reference ships an update every 9 months, and IV Medications Elsevier every 5 months. Most recently, Mosby's Drug Reference was updated on October 29, 2026 and IV Medications Elsevier 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.*