# The Chief Complaint vs OnScene

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Chief Complaint at none against OnScene's 2. The Chief Complaint also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). OnScene's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OnScene sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. The Chief Complaint asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Chief Complaint ships an update every 9 months, OnScene every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Chief Complaint | OnScene |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (649 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-chief-complaint/id969426649/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **649** | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Escavo, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/466952342) | [Fireside WiFi LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893367322) |

## What reviewers say

### The Chief Complaint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-chief-complaint/id969426649)

This emergency medicine guide offers an algorithmic approach to over 50 common complaints. It provides decision support, links to medical resources, and includes a drug guide and calculators. A clinical community forum is also available for collaboration.

**Highlights:** Algorithmic approach to common ER complaints, Clinical decision support algorithms, Links to medical resources (PubMed, EM:RAP, etc.), Emergency medicine drug guide, Medical calculators and scores, ESCAVO Clinical Community forum

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
- 🧠 Comprehensive differential diagnosis algorithms
- 📚 Excellent educational resource for medical students and residents
- 🎯 Clear, concise, and thorough clinical guidance
- 🔗 Evidence-based recommendations with step-by-step approach

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📱 No iPad landscape mode support
- ⚠️ Potentially outdated information (per one user)
- 📖 Sparse coverage in some specialty areas (OB/GYN, toxicology)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when deleting bookmarks

**Requested features**

- iPad landscape orientation support
- Additional drug information in complaint categories
- Expanded content for OB/GYN and toxicology sections


### OnScene

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onscene-emt-basic/id6772345105)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro — 20% Off | $11.99 | one-time |
| Full Access Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Chief Complaint free?

The Chief Complaint is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is OnScene free?

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

### Do The Chief Complaint or OnScene have ads?

Neither The Chief Complaint nor OnScene shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Chief Complaint or OnScene?

The Chief Complaint ships an update every 9 months, and OnScene every 2 months. Most recently, The Chief Complaint was updated on October 7, 2026 and OnScene on October 7, 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.*