# Surgtest vs Core Anesthesia

The clearest difference is rating: Core Anesthesia at 4.9 against Surgtest's 4.0. Core Anesthesia also leads on ratings volume (535 vs 1) and chart position (#189 vs unranked). Surgtest's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (100% vs 90%). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Anesthesia sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Surgtest asks for nothing beyond the download.

Core Anesthesia holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Core Anesthesia has 535 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Surgtest's written reviews are positive against 90% of Core Anesthesia's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Surgtest ships an update every 2 weeks, Core Anesthesia every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surgtest | Core Anesthesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgtest/id1499326696/reviews) | **[4.9 (535 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **535** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 90.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#189** |
| Size | 64 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surgtest](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842049728) | [Student Nurse Anesthesia LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630193394) |

## What reviewers say

### Surgtest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surgtest/id1499326696)

This app offers comprehensive preparation for super specialty medical exams with high-quality content, customizable learning sessions, and detailed analytics. It provides MCQs, recorded lectures, concise notes, and mock tests designed for busy doctors.

**Highlights:** Customizable study sessions with advanced filters, Unlimited practice MCQs, Updated notes, videos, and MCQs, Expert-created MCQs, Recorded video lectures with topic filters, Concise, exam-focused notes, Chapter-wise tests and full-length mock exams

**In-app purchases:** none


### Core Anesthesia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers a curriculum of audio episodes for CRNAs and students to earn CEUs, pass tests, and review for boards. Designed for busy schedules, episodes can be listened to anywhere and include printed outlines and sources.

**Highlights:** Continuing education episodes, Board review content, Podcast format for on-the-go learning, Printed outlines and sources included, Designed for CRNAs and students

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Student Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| CRNA Premium Monthly | $64.99 | per month |
| Student Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| CRNA Premium Quarterly | $179.00 | per 3 months |
| CRNA Premium Yearly | $599.00 | per year |
| Airway Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Equipment Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pharmacology Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Anatomy Core Module | $149.99 | one-time |
| core_crna_10 | $199.00 | one-time |
| core_crna_30 | $299.00 | one-time |
| CRNA USAP 25% | $449.99 | one-time |
| CRNA Promotion | $539.00 | one-time |
| core_crna_60 | $599.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎓 Excellent content quality and depth
- 👨‍🏫 Talented hosts (Cole and Tanner) who explain complex topics clearly
- 🚀 Perfect episode length for commutes and busy schedules
- 📱 Easy-to-use app interface
- 🎯 Content aligns well with CRNA school curriculum

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗂️ Poor episode organization and filtering options
- 🧭 Confusing navigation and discoverability of content
- 🐛 Playback issues without Wi-Fi connectivity
- ❓ Inconsistent premium content access and display
- 📍 Difficulty locating specific episodes despite search function

**Reported bugs**

- Episodes won't play offline or without Wi-Fi despite having data
- Premium subscription doesn't always unlock premium-labeled episodes
- Home screen categories don't display all available episodes
- Inconsistent episode visibility between app and podcast platforms
- Playback buffering and connectivity issues in the car

**Requested features**

- Chronological episode listing (1 to most recent)
- Better filtering and sorting options
- Episode download capability for offline listening
- Improved search functionality for specific topics
- Clearer distinction between free and premium content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surgtest free?

Surgtest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Core Anesthesia free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surgtest or Core Anesthesia?

Core Anesthesia is rated higher. Surgtest averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Core Anesthesia averages 4.9 from 535 ratings.

### Do Surgtest or Core Anesthesia have ads?

Neither Surgtest nor Core Anesthesia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Surgtest or Core Anesthesia?

Surgtest ships an update every 2 weeks, and Core Anesthesia every 3 weeks. Most recently, Surgtest was updated on October 9, 2026 and Core Anesthesia on October 11, 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.*