Comparison

TrueLearn SmartBanks vs Core Anesthesia

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

Head to head
About

TrueLearn SmartBanks

This app provides exam-style practice questions and detailed explanations to improve test-taking skills. It offers custom quizzes, performance dashboards, and a wide variety of question types for standardized tests.

Highlights
  • Exam-style practice questions
  • Rich answer explanations
  • Custom quizzes by topic
  • Performance dashboards
  • Multiple question types
  • Computer-simulated testing environment
Features
Read full description

We created the TrueLearn app to help learners become great test takers. Whether you need USMLE Step 1 practice questions or NBCOT® exam prep, we provide an unparalleled testing experience that improves exam performance. We believe every learner has the potential to become a better standardized test-taker. Because TrueLearn SmartBanks are not just another qbank. Our platform features include: -Exam-style practice questions with rich answer explanations that fundamentally improve your understanding to easily identify what you missed, understand why incorrect answers are wrong, and grasp why the correct answer is the best choice. -Custom quizzes around topics where you score low in a computer-simulated environment with practice questions written in the same style you will encounter on test day. -Performance dashboards that provide informative metrics on strengths and weaknesses in real-time – quickly see where you stand compared to peers across the nation. -Multiple question types, including multiple-choice, multi-part, SATA Basic and Advanced, matrix, open answer, matching, and ordering. Free to download, sign-in with your TrueLearn credentials, and start taking practice questions. Each of the SmartBanks are mapped to the corresponding exam and have thousands of practice questions written by board-certified professionals. -COMLEX: Level 1, Level 2, COMAT, & Level 3 -USMLE: Step 1, Step 2 CK, & NBME Shelf -Physician Assistant: PANCE & PANRE -APEX Anesthesia NCE/SEE SRNA Smartbank -Anesthesiology: ITE, BASIC, ADVANCED, ACA, & CME -Emergency Medicine: ABEM ITE & Qualifying -Family Medicine: ABFM ITE & Board Certification -General Surgery: ABSITE, ABS Qualifying, & CME -Internal Medicine: ACP IM-ITE & ABIM Board Certification -Neurology: AAN RITE®, ABPN Certification, & CME -OBGYN: CREOG, ABOG, & CME -Pediatrics: ABP ITE & Certification -Psychiatry: PRITE & ABPN Certification -Radiology: DXIT & CORE -Anesthesiology Assistant: NCCAA -Behavior Analyst: BCBA -Dental Hygiene: NBDHE -Medical Assistant: CMA, RMA, NCMA, CCMA -Nursing: NCLEX-RN® -Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): AANP & ANCC -Occupational Therapy: NBCOT OTR® & COTA® -Pharmacy: NAPLEX -Pharmacy Technician: PTCE® And ExCPT® -Physical Therapy: NPTE PT & PTA -Speech Language Pathology: Praxis® CCC-SLP

About

Core Anesthesia

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
Read full description

Core Anesthesia is continuing education and board review built for nurse anesthetists, made by CRNAs who remember how little time there is. Learn by listening. The curriculum is delivered as podcast episodes you can take anywhere: the commute, the gym, the drive between clinical sites. Every episode comes with learning objectives, a printed outline, cited sources, and a read-along transcript. EARN AANA CE CREDIT • Class A credits logged as you listen • Certificates ready to download when you need them • No paperwork and no separate reporting STUDY WITH PURPOSE • 1800+ practice questions with rationales that explain the answer • Custom quizzes across 19 anesthesia categories • See which topics are strong and which need work • High-yield cheat sheets and procedure videos • Search that finds the episode, sheet, or clip you meant TAKE IT OFFLINE Download episodes and cheat sheets for flights, commutes, and dead zones. Anything you save stays available with no signal. For SRNAs preparing for boards and CRNAs maintaining certification. End user license agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

TrueLearn SmartBanks4 screens
Core Anesthesia4 screens

Verdict

The call

TrueLearn SmartBanks and Core Anesthesia both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of Core Anesthesia's written reviews are positive against 28% of TrueLearn SmartBanks's. TrueLearn SmartBanks's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Core Anesthesia sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. TrueLearn SmartBanks asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for TrueLearn SmartBanks against 4.9 for Core Anesthesia. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 535 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of TrueLearn SmartBanks's written reviews are positive against 90% of Core Anesthesia's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
TrueLearn SmartBanks versus Core Anesthesia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrueLearn SmartBanksCore Anesthesia
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.7K ratings)4.9 (535 ratings)
Positive reviews27.8% of reviews90.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better535
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB52 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTrueLearn, LLCStudent Nurse Anesthesia LLC

Customer experience

TrueLearn SmartBanks

All ratings1,691 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive27.8%
Neutral15.5%
Negative56.7%

Core Anesthesia

All ratings535 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive90.2%
Neutral7.3%
Negative2.4%

User reviews

TrueLearn SmartBanks

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for test prep
  • 👍 Clean and visually appealing UI
  • ✨ Impressive with new updates
  • 💯 Helpful for exam preparation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Missing crucial features like highlighting
  • 🔒 Difficult login process
  • 🔧 Needs optimization and stability improvements
  • 📱 Limited functionality on mobile devices

Core Anesthesia

From 535 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎓 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

Room to improve

  • 🗂️ 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

Bugs and requests

TrueLearn SmartBanks

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to access previous tests and quizzes
  • Inconsistent data between app and website
  • Crashing when opening images or lab references
  • Unreliable question submission and tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Ability to highlight and annotate questions
  • Offline question access
  • Feedback mechanism for questions
  • Password/biometric login options

Core Anesthesia

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

6 requests
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Enhanced navigation to reduce confusion about available episodes

In-app purchases

None

TrueLearn SmartBanks

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Core Anesthesia

Subscriptions5
  • Student Premium Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • CRNA Premium Monthly3 Days trial$64.991 Month
  • Student Premium Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • CRNA Premium Quarterly$179.003 Months
  • CRNA Premium Yearly3 Days trial$599.001 Year
One-time9
  • Airway Core Module$49.99
  • Equipment Core Module$49.99
  • Pharmacology Core Module$49.99
Show 6 more
  • Anatomy Core Module$149.99
  • core_crna_10$199.00
  • core_crna_30$299.00
  • CRNA USAP 25%$449.99
  • CRNA Promotion$539.00
  • core_crna_60$599.00

Questions

Is TrueLearn SmartBanks free?
TrueLearn SmartBanks 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, TrueLearn SmartBanks or Core Anesthesia?
TrueLearn SmartBanks and Core Anesthesia are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.7K and 535 ratings respectively.
Do TrueLearn SmartBanks or Core Anesthesia have ads?
Neither TrueLearn SmartBanks nor Core Anesthesia shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TrueLearn SmartBanks or Core Anesthesia?
TrueLearn SmartBanks ships an update every 3 weeks, and Core Anesthesia every 3 weeks. Most recently, TrueLearn SmartBanks was updated on September 24, 2026 and Core Anesthesia on September 18, 2026.

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