This article was published in 2012 and updated in October 2026.

Medical school means learning an enormous amount of detail – anatomy, pharmacology, pathology – and keeping it available when you need it on the wards. A good set of apps on your phone or tablet makes that much easier. Many of the apps from the early iPad days have disappeared, so here are the tools medical students actually use today.

1. Complete Anatomy: 3D anatomy for studying and lab prep

Complete Anatomy by 3D4Medical (now part of Elsevier) is one of the most detailed 3D anatomy platforms: you can rotate, dissect and isolate structures, follow muscles and nerves, and test yourself with quizzes. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows and in the browser. There is a free version, but most features need a subscription, and many medical schools provide licenses – check with your library before you pay.

2. Visible Body: the classic 3D anatomy atlas

Visible Body (with apps such as Human Anatomy Atlas) has been a favorite of anatomy students for over a decade. Its strength is clear 3D models with short explanations, which makes it good for a first overview and for revising before a practical exam. Like Complete Anatomy, it is often available through university licenses.

3. Anki: flashcards with spaced repetition

Anki is the standard flashcard app in medical education. It uses spaced repetition: cards you know well appear less often, cards you struggle with come back sooner, so you review exactly what you are about to forget. Anki is free on Windows, Mac, Linux, in the browser and on Android (AnkiDroid); the iPhone and iPad app (AnkiMobile) is a one-time paid purchase that funds the project. Many students use shared, community-made decks that follow their curriculum or exam.

4. AMBOSS: knowledge library and question bank

AMBOSS combines a medical knowledge library with a large bank of exam-style questions and explanations, in English and German. It is popular for exam preparation (for example the USMLE in the US and the medical state exams in Germany) and as a quick reference during clinical rotations. AMBOSS is subscription-based, with discounts for students.

5. Medscape: free drug and disease reference

Medscape offers a free reference for drugs, diseases and procedures, a drug interaction checker, medical calculators and medical news. You need a free account. It is a good everyday companion on rotations when you quickly need a dose, a side effect or an overview of a condition.

6. Epocrates: drug information and pill identifier

Epocrates by athenahealth is one of the oldest medical apps and still widely used for drug information. The free version includes drug monographs, an interaction checker, a pill identifier and clinical calculators; a paid subscription adds more content.

7. MDCalc: clinical scores and calculators

MDCalc collects hundreds of clinical scores and formulas – from Wells and CHA₂DS₂-VASc to creatinine clearance – each with the original evidence and guidance on when to use it. It is free and one of the most practical apps once you start seeing patients.

Tips for using study apps well

• Ask your library first: universities often pay for licenses (anatomy platforms, e-books, question banks) that students would otherwise buy themselves.
• Do not rely on apps alone for patient care: follow your hospital’s guidelines and ask your supervisor – apps are references, not a replacement for clinical judgment.
• Keep the list short: one anatomy tool, one flashcard system and one reference app used consistently beat ten apps you open once.

In closing

Apps have changed how medical students learn: 3D anatomy replaces many textbook pages, spaced repetition makes huge amounts of detail manageable, and free references like Medscape, Epocrates and MDCalc put clinical knowledge in your pocket. Start with Anki and one anatomy app, then add a reference app when your clinical years begin.