ClinicalKey vs Medscape (2025): Paid Library vs Free Reference

Last reviewed: 2025-12-19 · Reviewed by

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At a Glance

Who is it for?

ClinicalKey:Institutions

Medscape:Individuals

Why choose ClinicalKey?

  • **Copyright**: Access to Harrison's, Gray's, etc.
  • **PDFs**: Downloadable chapters.
  • **Academic**: Citable sources.

Why choose Medscape?

  • **Free**: No paywall.
  • **Dynamic**: Updated more frequently than textbooks.
  • **Accessible**: App and web.

Feature Comparison

CapabilityClinicalKeyMedscape
SourceBooks/JournalsWeb Articles
CostHighZero

In-Depth Analysis

Overview

If your hospital pays for ClinicalKey, use it for the textbooks. If they don't, Medscape is a fantastic free alternative for general information.

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Use-Cases

Deep reading

When to choose ClinicalKey

  • **Winner.** The best texts.

When to choose Medscape

  • Good, but less depth.

Quick fact check

When to choose ClinicalKey

  • Clunky.

When to choose Medscape

  • **Winner.**