UpToDate is a clinical decision support resource used by healthcare professionals globally to find evidence-based medical information at the point of care. The platform synthesizes research from thousands of journals, providing concise, peer-reviewed answers to clinical questions across over 25 specialties. The final price of a subscription is highly variable, depending on the user’s status, the length of the subscription term, and the method of access. Costs fluctuate between an individual professional’s direct purchase and access granted through a large institutional license.
Current Pricing for Individual Clinicians
The baseline cost for a practicing clinician purchasing an individual subscription is around $579 per year for the standard UpToDate Pro package. This price applies to various professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The standard rate grants the user unlimited access to the full UpToDate online content and includes access via the mobile application on up to two devices.
The subscription model encourages longer commitments, and purchasing multi-year access offers a discount on the effective annual rate. For example, a two-year subscription is priced lower than two separate one-year purchases. These professional rates automatically include the ability to track and earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Education (CE) credits. This feature is integrated into the workflow, allowing clinicians to accrue credit simply by researching clinical questions.
Access Options for Students and Trainees
Students and trainees benefit from reduced rates compared to the full professional subscription. This discounted pricing structure is offered to medical students, residents, fellows, and other individuals currently in a qualifying medical training program. The lower price is intended to make the resource accessible during the years when income is limited.
To qualify for these trainee rates, individuals must provide official documentation to verify their status, such as a letter from their program director, a copy of their current training contract, or an official ID badge. The trainee subscription does not include the CME/CE/CPD credit tracking feature, which is reserved for practicing professionals who need to meet licensure requirements. Various professional organizations sometimes partner with UpToDate to offer additional discounts, such as a 50% reduction for medical student members of the American Medical Association.
Institutional and Group Access Models
Many healthcare professionals do not pay the full individual rate because their access is covered by a site license purchased by their employer or educational institution. Hospitals, universities, large clinic systems, and government agencies commonly acquire an institutional subscription. This model grants access to all affiliated staff or students, often through an Enterprise agreement for organizations with 20 or more users.
Access is typically managed through IP authentication, meaning any user connected to the institution’s network is automatically granted entry. Users can register for “UpToDate Anywhere” access, which provides remote access outside of the physical location using a personal username and password. To maintain remote access, the user must re-verify their affiliation by logging in from the institution’s network every 90 days. For smaller medical groups or private practices (2 to 19 individuals), tiered group discount models offer a reduced rate compared to individual subscriptions.
Factors Influencing Subscription Price
Beyond the base rate, the final subscription cost is modified by several factors, including premium content packages. The ability to earn CME credits is included in the professional subscription, allowing clinicians to meet regulatory and certification requirements. UpToDate automatically tracks a user’s research activity, which can then be redeemed for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
A user can choose to upgrade to a higher-tier product, such as the UpToDate Pro Plus package, which increases the subscription price from the standard $579 per year to a starting price of $699 per year. This package adds specialized tools, including “UpToDate Expert AI,” which provides evidence-based responses using generative AI, and tools for complex tasks like kidney dosing and antidepressant switching. The base price can also vary geographically, as the company participates in programs like the WHO-hosted HINARI initiative, which offers free or very low-cost access in qualifying low- and middle-income countries.