# VCE Simulator vs NCE

The clearest difference is rating: NCE at 4.6 against VCE Simulator's 1.1. NCE also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (393 vs 29). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VCE Simulator sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month and NCE sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NCE holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NCE has 393 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of VCE Simulator's written reviews are positive against 18% of NCE's.

VCE Simulator ships an update every 5 months, NCE every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VCE Simulator | NCE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.1 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vce-simulator/id1459356757/reviews) | **[4.6 (393 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nce-counselor-exam-practice/id1584526759/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **393** |
| Positive reviews | 4.9% of reviews | **18.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 30 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tradesol Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454359508) | [MastrAPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618627725) |

## What reviewers say

### VCE Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vce-simulator/id1459356757)

Prepare for certification exams on your iOS device. This app allows you to take practice tests from .vce files, simulating the actual exam environment. Unlock unlimited access to all exam questions with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Take tests from .vce files, Simulates exam environment, Access exams on the go, Limited free questions, Full version subscription

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $99.99 | per month |
| 6-Months Subscription | $199.99 | per 6 months |
| 3 Months Subscription | $199.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $299.99 | per year |
| Subscription for 1 Month | $89.99 | one-time |
| Subscription for 3 Months | $119.99 | one-time |
| Subscription for 6 Months | $199.99 | one-time |
| Subscription for 1 Year | $299.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effective exam preparation tool
- 📱 Mobile accessibility for studying on-the-go
- 🎯 Comprehensive VCE file support
- 👍 Helpful customer support (mentioned in few reviews)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Extremely high subscription pricing ($89-$150/month)
- 📈 Dramatic and repeated price increases over time
- 🔒 Difficult cancellation process with poor customer service
- 🚫 Platform-specific subscriptions (separate fees for iOS, Windows, Mac)
- 🐛 App functionality issues and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Network errors during VCE file uploads
- App freezes and crashes during use
- Login required every session
- Hotspot questions showing correct answers prematurely
- Subscription not recognized after purchase

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support for iPhone
- Cross-platform subscription compatibility
- Monthly payment option instead of annual commitment
- Device synchronization across multiple platforms
- Customizable question order and settings


### NCE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nce-counselor-exam-practice/id1584526759)

Prepare for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and CPCE with a personalized study plan. Practice with over 500 questions, track your progress, and compare your scores to the community average to boost your confidence and pass your exam on the first try.

**Highlights:** Personalized study plan, 500+ practice questions, Topic-based learning, Strength and weakness tracking, Detailed test statistics, Community score comparison

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly with Trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Incredibly helpful app
- 💡 Great explanations when answering questions
- 📊 Insightful data for tracking growth
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Provides proper preparation for tests

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Poorly written questions
- ❌ Difficult to understand questions
- ❌ Bad grammar and syntax
- ❌ Redundant questions
- ❌ Confusing explanations

**Reported bugs**

- App will not open
- App Support link doesn't work
- Inaccurate pass rate prediction
- App doesn't work
- Free trial blocks content

**Requested features**

- More varied questions
- More categories of questions
- Implementation of creating sections (e.g., career counseling, research, group therapy) to review and display progress in each section
- Progress tracking similar to Duolingo


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VCE Simulator free?

VCE Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NCE free?

NCE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VCE Simulator or NCE?

NCE is rated higher. VCE Simulator averages 1.1 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while NCE averages 4.6 from 393 ratings.

### Do VCE Simulator or NCE have ads?

Neither VCE Simulator nor NCE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VCE Simulator or NCE?

VCE Simulator ships an update every 5 months, and NCE every 3 months. Most recently, VCE Simulator was updated on October 21, 2026 and NCE on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*