CATALYST for Learning vs Sketchy Learning
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CATALYST for Learning
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CATALYST is a longitudinal formative assessment platform based on cognitive learning principles designed to promote more durable and complex learning. CATALYST offers practice-relevant content at spaced intervals with immediate feedback and related reference materials. It also offers mobile accessibility, improvement resources and short questions to fit busy schedules. CATALYST can be customized to meet client requirements and presents an alternative format for low/medium-stakes assessments as well as more high-stakes examinations traditionally administered by specialty medical boards.
Sketchy Learning
This app transforms complex medical subjects into memorable visual lessons and interactive patient scenarios. It's designed to help students learn faster, master exams, and build clinical confidence. Engage with high-yield content and practice real-world reasoning.
- Visual lessons for memorization
- Interactive patient case simulations
- High-yield exam content
- Quizzes and custom tests
- Customizable playlists
- Mobile-friendly learning
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Sketchy turns tough medical content into unforgettable visual lessons and interactive patient cases, so you learn faster, ace exams, and feel ready in the clinic. Built for how medical, PA, NP, and premed students actually learn, Sketchy helps you make sense of high-yield topics fast and recall them when it counts. Watch engaging visual lessons that lock in tough topics like pharm, micro, path, and more. Apply what you’ve learned to a clinical scenario with interactive patient cases that build real clinical reasoning skills. Whether you are squeezing in a quick review between classes or deep in exam and board prep, Sketchy goes where you go and helps concepts stick for the long haul. What you’ll love about Sketchy: * Unforgettable visual lessons that make hard concepts easy to remember * Interactive symbol explorer for quick visual lesson review * Interactive patient case sims to practice thinking like a clinician * High-yield content for exams, boards, and clinical rotations * Quizzes and custom tests that reinforce memory and reveal weak spots * Customizable playlists to organize lessons and cases your way * Mobile-friendly learning for quick reviews or deep dives Loved by over half a million students and created by expert clinicians, Sketchy helps learners feel more confident in class, on rotations, and on exam day. Terms: https://www.sketchy.com/terms Privacy: https://www.sketchy.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CATALYST for Learning at none against Sketchy Learning's 4. CATALYST for Learning also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). Sketchy Learning's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 48 months). On price and device support 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
Both are free to download. Sketchy Learning sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $289.99 per year. CATALYST for Learning asks for nothing beyond the download.
CATALYST for Learning ships an update every 48 months, Sketchy Learning every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CATALYST for Learning | Sketchy Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 52.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 48 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Internet Testing Systems (ITS) | Sketchy Group, LLC |
Bugs and requests
CATALYST for Learning
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Sketchy Learning
Reported bugs
14 issues- Video stops playing and closes in landscape orientation
- Keyboard covers submit button when giving feedback on mobile app
- Closed captioning settings do not save
- App crashes when videos are full-screened and phone is turned sideways
- App crashes frequently
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- App becomes laggy and unusable after an update
- Video controls (pause, rewind) do not work after update
- Videos randomly stop playing without explanation
- Videos always crash on iPhone X
- Videos close by themselves on iOS
- Can't watch videos horizontally
- New layout makes symbols tiny and difficult to view
- Can't scroll on the side panel to see other videos in a course subsection
- Full screen symbol mode forces device orientation switch
Requested features
6 requests- Ability to create customized tests in the app
- Save closed captioning settings
- Improve zoom and pan functionality in landscape mode
- Bring back bookmarking feature
- Allow scrolling on the side panel within video courses
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- Make video speed and caption settings persistent across videos
In-app purchases
CATALYST for Learning
No in-app purchases
Sketchy Learning
- Sketchy NP 12 month7 Days trial$289.991 Year
- MCAT Science Review 12 month7 Days trial$399.991 Year
- Sketchy PA 12 month7 Days trial$399.991 Year
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- Medical 12 month7 Days trial$459.991 Year
Questions
Is CATALYST for Learning free?
Is Sketchy Learning free?
Do CATALYST for Learning or Sketchy Learning have ads?
Which is updated more often, CATALYST for Learning or Sketchy Learning?
Other comparisons
