Comparison

Nails Exam vs Nail Tech State Board Prep

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Nails Exam

Prepare for your nail technician certification exam with a comprehensive practice test. This app offers over 900 exam-style questions in English and Vietnamese, simulating the real exam environment to help you master the material and become a certified manicurist.

Highlights
  • 900+ exam-like nail questions
  • English and Vietnamese language support
  • Advanced review technology
  • Exam simulator
  • Customizable exam settings
  • Exam history tracking
Features
Read full description

Pass the California nail technician exam — first try. California rewrote this exam on April 1, 2026. Safety and Infection Control went from 38% to 50% of the paper, and Skin Care is an entirely new category. Material written before then drills the wrong half of the test. Every question and lesson in this app is weighted to the new outline. BUILT TO THE REAL PAPER • 60 scored questions, 90 minutes, 75% to pass — the mock exam matches it exactly • The same weighting the Board publishes: Safety 50%, Nail Care 22%, Client Consultation and Nail Analysis 18%, Skin Care 10% • The real paper also carries 5 unscored trial questions. The app tells you what to expect. 1,973 QUESTIONS, EVERY ONE EXPLAINED • 1,070 questions in English, 903 in Tiếng Việt • No bare right-or-wrong. Each answer explains why it is right, why the tempting one is wrong, and which state rule decides it • Wrong answers are built from the misconceptions the exam actually traps — not filler TWO LANGUAGES, WRITTEN SEPARATELY • The Vietnamese track is authored for this exam, not machine-translated • It keeps the English term beside each Vietnamese one, because the exam is sat in English • Progress on each track is kept separately 84 LESSONS THAT ACTUALLY STICK • Short readings you can finish between clients, each followed by review questions • Covers pathogens, decontamination levels, implement handling, product safety, nail and skin conditions, and client consultation ASK AI, ON ANY LESSON OR QUESTION • Stuck on a lesson or a wrong answer? Ask, and get it explained in plain language • It answers for CALIFORNIA — where the national textbooks differ, it follows the state • It will tell you when a rule does not exist rather than invent one: California sets no implement soak time, and the tutor says so instead of making a number up • Ask in Vietnamese and it answers in Vietnamese PRACTICE HOWEVER YOU LIKE • Full timed mock exam • Practice by blueprint area • Random sets of 10 to 100 • Every question you got wrong, in one place ABOUT THE SUBSCRIPTION Nails Exam Prep offers a weekly subscription with a 3-day free trial, $7.99 per week after the trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it any time in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.trueprepai.net/privacy-policy Not affiliated with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology or PSI.

About

Nail Tech State Board Prep

Prepare for your Nail Technician certification exam with over 3000 practice questions, flashcards, and mock tests. Master essential topics like sanitation, safety, and client services to confidently begin your professional career.

Highlights
  • 3000+ exam-like questions
  • 1000+ flashcards
  • Multiple practice tests
  • Real-life scenarios
  • Covers all exam areas
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

3000+ exam-like questions, 1000+ flashcards, over a dozen practice tests and real-life scenarios make Ultraprep a must-have tool to prepare for the Nail Technician exam. The Nail Technician Exam is a certification exam designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills required for professional nail care specialists. This examination ensures that aspiring nail technicians have mastered essential topics like nail care techniques, sanitation, safety practices, and client services, preparing you to provide exceptional nail services confidently and professionally. Passing the Nail Technician Exam showcases your expertise, elevating your career opportunities in salons, spas, and the broader beauty industry. HAVE YOU EVER SAID, "I’LL DO IT TOMORROW?"
Now it’s time to commit. Pass the most important test of your professional beauty career. YOU WILL MASTER ALL THE EXAM AREAS: - Manicure & Pedicure Techniques
 - Nail Anatomy and Physiology 
- Nail Disorders & Diseases
 - Acrylic & Gel Nail Enhancements
 - Nail Product Chemistry
 - Sanitation, Sterilization, & Safety
 - Client Consultation & Professional Ethics - Massage Techniques for Hands & Feet
 - Nail Art & Creative Design
 - Salon Operations and Safety Standards
 - Regulatory & Licensing Guidelines 
...and much more! Preparing for your Nail Technician exam can be tough, but it's not impossible with one of the best study apps around. Preparation for this exam requires not only rote memorization but a real understanding of the material. The goal of this app is to help users engage with their studies and make it fun at the same time! Terms of use: https://ultraprep.co/terms Privacy policy: https://ultraprep.co/privacy-policy Disclaimer: Ultraprep is not affiliated with or endorsed by any official nail technician licensing board or organization. Accordingly, these organizations make no representations regarding the content of Ultraprep materials. All organizational and test names are trademarks of their respective owners. For official information about nail technician licensing examinations, please refer to your state's licensing authority or official examination provider. If you have questions or comments, email us any time: contact@ultraprep.co

Screenshots

Nails Exam4 screens
Nail Tech State Board Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Nails Exam at 491 against Nail Tech State Board Prep's 4. Nail Tech State Board Prep's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 23 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Nails Exam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Nail Tech State Board Prep sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Nails Exam against 4.8 for Nail Tech State Board Prep. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nails Exam has 491 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nails Exam ships an update every 23 months, Nail Tech State Board Prep every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nails Exam versus Nail Tech State Board Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNails ExamNail Tech State Board Prep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (491 ratings)4.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings491 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.114.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB7 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperLineCenturyFLUENT AAC TECHNOLOGY S.R.L.

Customer experience

Nails Exam

All ratings489 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Nail Tech State Board Prep

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Nails Exam

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly Access3 Days trial$7.997 Days
One-time1
  • Buy All Questions$14.99
2 purchases

Nail Tech State Board Prep

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Premium$9.991 Month
  • 1 Month Premium7 Days trial$24.991 Month

Questions

Is Nails Exam free?
Nails Exam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nail Tech State Board Prep free?
Nail Tech State Board Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nails Exam or Nail Tech State Board Prep?
Nail Tech State Board Prep is rated higher. Nails Exam averages 4.6 out of 5 from 491 ratings, while Nail Tech State Board Prep averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do Nails Exam or Nail Tech State Board Prep have ads?
Neither Nails Exam nor Nail Tech State Board Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nails Exam or Nail Tech State Board Prep?
Nails Exam ships an update every 23 months, and Nail Tech State Board Prep every 5 months. Most recently, Nails Exam was updated on October 29, 2026 and Nail Tech State Board Prep on October 24, 2026.

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