ClinicalKey AI vs iatroX (2025): The Global Encyclopedia vs The UK Toolkit

Last reviewed: 2025-12-17 · Reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler, MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP

At a Glance

Who is it for?

iatroX:NHS Clinicians (Primary & Secondary Care).

ClinicalKey AI:Academic Hospitals & Researchers.

Why choose iatroX?

  • **UK-Centric**: Won't quote US guidelines (ACC/AHA) when you need NICE.
  • **Concise**: optimised for point-of-care decisions, not reading chapters.
  • **Free**: No institutional subscription required.
  • **Workflow Tools**: Includes CPD logging and Exams.

Why choose ClinicalKey AI?

  • **Depth**: Access to full-text journals (The Lancet) and textbooks (Gray's Anatomy).
  • **Elsevier Content**: The AI is trained on trusted, proprietary medical texts.
  • **Research Power**: Best for complex, rare, or academic queries.

Feature Comparison

CapabilityiatroXClinicalKey AI
Source Material-Elsevier Textbooks & Journals
Cost-Expensive (Institutional)
A I Model-RAG on Elsevier Library

In-Depth Analysis

Overview

ClinicalKey AI is the "Deep Dive." It allows you to converse with thousands of textbooks. If you have a complex patient with a rare syndrome, it is invaluable.

iatroX is the "Right Path." It allows you to converse with the rulebook (NICE/CKS). If you have a standard patient and need to know the correct NHS pathway, iatroX is faster and more relevant.

Use-Cases

Standard Treatment

When to choose iatroX

  • **Recommended.** Gives the standard NHS protocol.

When to choose ClinicalKey AI

  • Risk of getting a US-centric or overly academic answer.

Researching Rare Disease

When to choose iatroX

  • Limited to national guidance.

When to choose ClinicalKey AI

  • **Recommended.** Pulls from specialist textbooks and recent journals.

FAQs

Is ClinicalKey AI free?
No, it requires a significant individual or institutional subscription.
Does iatroX have full-text journals?
No. iatroX focuses on clinical guidelines and summaries, not academic literature.