Comparison

TrueLearn SmartBanks vs MedStudy

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

MedStudy

Access a comprehensive suite of medical study tools, including practice questions, flashcards, video lectures, and audio pearls. Track your progress, bookmark key content, and customize study decks for any stage of your medical education or career.

Highlights
  • Thousands of practice Q&As and flashcards
  • Board review videos with variable playback speed
  • Bookmark lectures and take notes
  • Detailed performance tracking
  • Offline video and audio downloads
  • Cross-platform web and mobile access
Read full description

Access QBank+, Flashcards, Video Board Review and Audio Pearls on your mobile devices. Features include: Thousands of practice Q&As and review flashcards Stream hours of laser-focused board review videos with variable playback speed Bookmark essential lectures and take notes using text or voice-to-text In-depth explanations of all Qbank+ answer options Detailed medical images and illustrations Set up unlimited Qbank+ question and flashcard review decks Generate unlimited Qbank+ test decks and sharpen your exam skills Customize question and flashcard decks to focus on specific topics or question sets Access question and flashcard decks seamlessly across web or mobile for anytime, anywhere study Highlight key points in Q&A using four color options for more focused practice and review—available in study and test decks! Detailed Qbank+ and flashcard performance tracking Visualize your progress across video and audio lectures Video and audio continue streaming while you multitask in other apps (now with picture in picture) Download video and audio topics for offline study From medical school to board prep to recertification to maintaining competency, we help you study strong—wherever you are on your medical journey. MEDSTUDY FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE For over 30 years, MedStudy has been trusted by Internal Medicine residents preparing for the ABIM Certification exam in ACGME-accredited allopathic and osteopathic programs, as well as by practicing physicians studying for the ABIM Maintenance of Certification Exam, LKA, and hospitalists taking the Focused Practice in Hospitalist Medicine exam. MEDSTUDY FOR PEDIATRICS MedStudy is the gold standard resource for Pediatricians studying for the ABP Certification exam in ACGME-accredited allopathic and osteopathic programs, as well as by practicing physicians studying for the ABP Maintenance of Certification Exam or MOCA-Peds. MEDSTUDY FOR MED SCHOOL Truly learn the foundations of medicine with everything you need to excel in medical school, the USMLE exams, and beyond.

Screenshots

TrueLearn SmartBanks4 screens
MedStudy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: TrueLearn SmartBanks at 2.2K against MedStudy's 199. TrueLearn SmartBanks also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for TrueLearn SmartBanks against 4.8 for MedStudy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TrueLearn SmartBanks has 2.2K ratings behind it against 199, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of TrueLearn SmartBanks's written reviews are positive against 22% of MedStudy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TrueLearn SmartBanks ships an update every 3 weeks, MedStudy every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TrueLearn SmartBanks versus MedStudy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrueLearn SmartBanksMedStudy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (2.2K ratings) — better4.8 (199 ratings)
Positive reviews27.8% of reviews — better22.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2.2K — better199
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB22 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperTrueLearn, LLCMedStudy

Customer experience

TrueLearn SmartBanks

All ratings2,179 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive27.8%
Neutral15.5%
Negative56.7%

MedStudy

All ratings199 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.5%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative77.8%

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

MedStudy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TrueLearn SmartBanks

No in-app purchases

None

MedStudy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TrueLearn SmartBanks free?
TrueLearn SmartBanks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MedStudy free?
MedStudy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TrueLearn SmartBanks or MedStudy?
TrueLearn SmartBanks is rated higher. TrueLearn SmartBanks averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while MedStudy averages 4.8 from 199 ratings.
Do TrueLearn SmartBanks or MedStudy have ads?
Neither TrueLearn SmartBanks nor MedStudy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TrueLearn SmartBanks or MedStudy?
TrueLearn SmartBanks ships an update every 3 weeks, and MedStudy every 2 months. Most recently, TrueLearn SmartBanks was updated on October 13, 2026 and MedStudy on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons