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Software · head to head

Epocrates vs Epic Systems

E

Epocrates

Software

Mobile clinical reference and decision support app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Epic Systems logo

Epic Systems

Software

Leading electronic health records system for healthcare organizations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Epocrates has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Epocrates the App Store listing for Epocrates (seller Epocrates) states subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and introductory pricing applies only to the first subscription period; Epic Systems no free version or trial; enterprise pricing only with custom negotiation required
  • They diverge on capability: Epocrates covers Drug Reference, Epic Systems covers Electronic Health Records.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epocrates and Epic Systems actually diverge.

Attributes where Epocrates and Epic Systems differ
AttributeEpocratesEpic Systems
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMobileWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20001979

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Epocrates

  • Drug Reference
  • Interactions
  • Dosing Calculators
  • Disease Information
  • Medical Procedures
  • Patient Education
  • EHR Systems

Only in Epic Systems

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Revenue Cycle Management
  • Patient Portal
  • Clinical Decision Support
  • Population Health
  • Lab Systems
  • Imaging Systems
  • Pharmacy Systems

Both cover

  • HIPAA
  • Cloud deployment
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Epocrates

  • Patient Care
  • Medical Records
  • Practice Management
  • Telehealth

Epic Systems

  • Patient Care
  • Medical Records
  • Practice Management
  • Telehealth

Both are used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Epocrates

  • The App Store listing for Epocrates (seller Epocrates) states subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and introductory pricing applies only to the first subscription period

Epic Systems

  • No free version or trial; enterprise pricing only with custom negotiation required
  • Lengthy implementation timeline: 12-24 months for single hospitals, 3-5 years for multi-system rollouts
  • Customization and workflow adaptation requires extensive consulting services
  • Very high licensing costs ranging from 100,000 to 30 million USD depending on organization size

Pricing, plan by plan

Epocrates

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Drug references
    • Calculators
    • Interactions
  • Premium$99/year
    • Enhanced content
    • Offline access

Epic Systems

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Epic Systems review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Epocrates if

  • You need drug reference.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mobile.
  • You also want interactions.
Epocrates review

Choose Epic Systems if

  • You need electronic health records.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want revenue cycle management.
Epic Systems review

Questions people ask

Is Epocrates or Epic Systems better?
Neither clearly leads. Epocrates starts at Free and Epic Systems at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epocrates or Epic Systems?
Epocrates has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Epocrates and On request for Epic Systems.
Does Epocrates or Epic Systems run on more platforms?
Epocrates runs on Mobile. Epic Systems runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Epocrates for free?
Yes. Epocrates has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Epic Systems starts at On request.
What is Epocrates best used for?
Epocrates is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth.
What can Epocrates do that Epic Systems cannot?
Epocrates covers Drug Reference, Interactions, Dosing Calculators, Disease Information. Epic Systems covers Electronic Health Records, Revenue Cycle Management, Patient Portal, Clinical Decision Support. Both handle HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Mobile support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Epic Systems: What is Epic's market position?

Epic holds 36 percent of the U.S. EHR market and manages over 280 million patient records across 1,200+ healthcare organizations. Among hospitals with over 300 beds, Epic has 52 percent market share, and 71 percent market share in major academic medical centers as of 2026.

Source
Epic Systems: Is there a free trial or demo available?

Epic does not offer a free version or trial. The software is enterprise-only with custom pricing negotiated directly with organizations. Typical implementation timelines for single hospitals range from 12 to 24 months, and multi-hospital systems can take 3 to 5 years for phased rollouts.

Source
Epic Systems: How does Epic integrate with third-party systems?

Epic provides multiple integration pathways: FHIR R4 APIs, HL7 v2 messaging, CCDA document exchange, and proprietary APIs through Epic Showroom (formerly App Orchard). Over 1,000 certified apps are available in the marketplace, enabling real-time data synchronization and interoperability.

Source
Epic Systems: What is included in Epic's unified platform?

Epic provides a truly unified system spanning inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, surgical, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, billing, and population health on a single database. It includes appointment scheduling, medical billing, clinical decision support, patient portal (MyChart), telehealth capabilities, and analytics.

Source
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