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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

WebMD vs epocrates

WebMD 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner WebMD
epocrates 4.4★ · Free to download 60

WebMD is the better choice for general users seeking understandable medical information and basic health tracking, while Epocrates, despite recent paywall changes, remains a strong option for medical professionals needing detailed drug references.

Full reviews: WebMD · epocrates

WebMD excels as a free resource for laypersons, offering accessible medical information, symptom checking, and medication reminders, though users report frequent bugs and slow performance. Epocrates, historically a favorite among medical professionals for drug information, has recently implemented a paywall, leading to significant user frustration and a decline in its perceived value as a free tool.

Head to head

Features tieR1R2R5R17
WebMD WebMD offers a symptom checker, medication reminders, pill identification, and articles explaining medical diagnoses and treatments in lay terms R2R5R17R21. However, the symptom checker is criticized for being too general or providing irrelevant results R1. Users also miss discontinued features like the allergy tracker .
epocrates Epocrates is highly valued for its comprehensive drug information, including dosing, interactions, and pill identification . It also includes medical news articles . However, some users note a loss of functionality, such as drug pricing and package sizing .
Ease of Use edge: WebMDR5R16R27R28
WebMD WebMD is generally appreciated for presenting information in an easy-to-understand format for laypersons R5. However, users report a clunky layout and difficulty navigating the app R16R28. Some find the symptom checker unhelpful or difficult to get relevant answers from R27.
epocrates Epocrates was historically praised for its ease of use and quick access to information . However, recent updates have introduced issues, with some users finding the app cluttered with ads and pop-ups, making it difficult to navigate .
Reliability tieR1R3R6R7
WebMD WebMD users frequently report significant technical issues, including the app not opening, crashing, slow loading times, and problems saving or updating personal information R3R6R7R8. The symptom checker is also criticized for accuracy issues R1.
epocrates Epocrates has historically been a trusted and reliable resource for medical professionals . However, recent reviews indicate issues with the app not opening or crashing after iOS updates .
Price/Value edge: WebMDR2R5R11R44
WebMD WebMD is free to download and use, offering a wide range of information and tools without a direct cost. Some users note the presence of ads . The value is high for general users seeking accessible medical information R2R5R11R44.
epocrates Epocrates, while historically free for basic drug information, has recently implemented a paywall, limiting free lookups per week and requiring a paid subscription for full access R61. This change has significantly reduced its perceived value for many long-term users, who now seek free alternatives .
Support tieR7R12R33R82
WebMD WebMD users report difficulty with account issues and a lack of responsiveness from support, with problems like password changes and profile updates remaining unresolved R7R12. One user contacted support via the website for a crashing issue R33.
epocrates Epocrates users express frustration with the lack of notification regarding the new paywall and the inability to transfer paid subscriptions to new phones . One user mentioned support was not interested in keeping a promise of free access R82.
Pick WebMD if

you are a general user looking for free, easy-to-understand medical information, a symptom checker, and medication reminders, and you are willing to tolerate occasional bugs and slow performance R2R5R11R17.

Pick epocrates if

you are a medical professional who needs a comprehensive drug reference, including dosing, interactions, and pill identification, and you are willing to pay for a subscription, especially if your institution covers the cost .

Evidence note: Epocrates' recent shift from a free model to a paywall has heavily skewed its recent reviews negatively, as many long-term users express frustration over losing previously free features. This makes a direct comparison of 'free' value difficult, as WebMD remains fully free for its core offerings.

Frequently asked

Is Epocrates still free to use?
Epocrates is no longer fully free; it now limits the number of free lookups per week for basic drug information, requiring a paid subscription for unlimited access R61R72R73R79.
What are the main issues with WebMD?
WebMD users frequently report technical problems such as the app not opening, crashing, slow loading, and issues with saving or updating personal information R6R7R8. The symptom checker is also criticized for being inaccurate or providing irrelevant results R1.
Does WebMD offer medication reminders?
Yes, WebMD offers medication reminders, which many users find helpful for staying on schedule with their daily medications R17R21R23. However, some users report issues with the reminders automatically advancing or having unwanted notifications R18R21.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] WebMD 2/5 · US Why am I always DYING?: So I have used this app for many years and when it tells me I’m dying or tells me my kids are dying I delete it!! But I am having some very troubling symptoms so I thought I’d try it again! I’m not dying, but it’s not recognizing the answers to the questions it asked! I’m having abdominal pain and I marked the box that says prior appendix surgery, and then when I went to go
  2. [R2] WebMD 4/5 · US Very helpful go to references: I find this very helpful for quick research on my medical conditions. Seeing a dr for every little thing is unproductive.
  3. [R5] WebMD 5/5 · US WebMD: An excellent medical site that explains in lay terms medical diagnoses and treatments. The explanations are geared to patients and give information that is aimed at a layperson.
  4. [R17] WebMD 4/5 · US My aid: I have been using WebMD for several years now. I have daily medications that I take once or twice a day. And it always reminds me and has descriptions of medications, in detail, if I have questions.
  5. [R16] WebMD 2/5 · US clunky layout, no face id: The user interface is sloppy and all over the place and hard to navigate. And they don’t offer Face ID so you constantly have to put in your password.
  6. [R27] WebMD 3/5 · US Not helpful: Asked a question in several different ways trying to get answers. Couldn’t not get a response remotely close to my question. Useless !
  7. [R28] WebMD 1/5 · US Too much activity: Pop ups click this click that no scroll but then asks if I love it. I’ve opened this app twice in idk how long and it takes longer to get info here than google. Also a dark screen option would be nice
  8. [R3] WebMD 3/5 · US “Save your sex for faster symptom checker”: The app will not save my sex! Bug. Please fix. Thanks
  9. [R6] WebMD 3/5 · US Won’t always open: I love this app and have used it for many years to track medication and check symptoms, but it is getting really frustrating. That half of the time I try to open it it won’t open. Please fix this!!
  10. [R7] WebMD 1/5 · US Not worth my time!: I received a security alert that my data may have been breached and was advised to change my password. Sounds reasonable except WebMD’s systems don’t actually work. This issue has been ongoing since at least mid-2025. Any attempt to update account information results in an endless spinning cog that never completes. I tested this on: • WebMD’s website (Safari and Firefox) • T
  11. [R11] WebMD 4/5 · US Healthy dad wanting solid medical info: WebMD is a trusted site with credible, clear, and helpful information for me and my family. I appreciate the lack of hyperbole, direct information, and that it doesn’t always have an answer. It reminds me that it’s a resource but not the end-all/be-all for everyday medical issue questions.
  12. [R44] WebMD 5/5 · US Health is Wealth: Knowledge is power with WebMD
  13. [R12] WebMD 3/5 · US Won’t update personal info in profile: When I try to add or edit my personal profile it will not stop loading and doesn’t update.
  14. [R33] WebMD 3/5 · US Like the app, when it doesn’t crash.: Just downloaded the app on my iPhone 15 Pro (I’m running the most current operating system version: 17.4.1). When I search in the app for ‘tennis elbow exercises’ and afterwards tap on the article to open it, the app immediately crashes and kicks me out to my Home Screen. I rebooted my phone, and tried again, but the same problem still occurs. As a result, I c
  15. [R82] epocrates 1/5 · US Promise not kept: 20 years ago was promised free access to app; now limited with new restricted queries and support not interested in keeping promise
  16. [R61] epocrates 1/5 · US Not Free Anymore: Used Epocrates for years and always thought it was a great resource. Perfect while I was in pharmacy school and now as a pharmacist. I am extremely disappointed, but frankly not surprised, they now have it behind a paywall. I only looked up a few medications (maybe like 4) and get the pop up that I “reached my free amount of look ups for the week.” For the week? It’s literally th
  17. [R72] epocrates 3/5 · US Not working like it used to: This has been a wonderful app. However, I have the free version, and all of a sudden, it is limiting the amount of views I get in a week. I have used the same free version for 5 years with no issues and now I’m incredibly frustrated that I can’t access the content like I used to.
  18. [R73] epocrates 1/5 · US No longer free: I’ve been using Epocrates in my daily practice for over 10 years without issue, just to discover I now only get so many searches within a 7 day period unless I purchase their Epocrates+ prescription. This is such a disappointment and I will probably no longer be using this app.
  19. [R79] epocrates 2/5 · US Charging for Something That Used to be Free is Bad Business: Epocrates was always an absolutely indispensable product towards my ability to practice medicine confidently for 10+ years. Upon opening it up again recently, I was completely shocked to find out that the basic features of the service which I used to use religiously are now locked behind a paywall. I barely searched up even 10 drugs befo
  20. [R8] WebMD 5/5 · US Slow loading: I love this app. I use it every day for my reminders and notifications. The articles are also helpful ind interesting BUT when opening the app it loads slowly. Hope it can be fixed 🤞🏼
  21. [R18] WebMD 3/5 · US Medication Reminders: The medication reminders will automatically move on to the future if you are an hour behind in taking the medication. You have to be really careful or you will end up “Taken” a medication that it is not time for. There is no way to undo the error. The app then becomes absolutely pointless for the medications for the remaining of the day. I’m only giving this app three stars b
  22. [R21] WebMD 3/5 · US I like the app.: I like the app but I don’t love it. The medication reminder needs to have a different notification tone from other apps to make it stand out. It also sends me a ton of notifications that I don’t want even tho I have them turned off. I only want med reminder notifications. Please fix. Otherwise, the app is great. I like pill identifier, symptom checker, as well as that I can save
  23. [R23] WebMD 4/5 · US Organized: It helps me stay on time with my medication with reminders.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store