Comparison

TrueLearn SmartBanks vs EPAnotes

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

EPAnotes

Features
Read full description

EPAnotes streamlines competency-based medical education by making trainee assessments fast, transparent, and actionable. Designed for residency and fellowship programs, EPAnotes enables faculty to document EPA (Entrustable Professional Activity) evaluations in under 2 minutes while providing trainees with meaningful feedback and clear progress tracking.

Screenshots

TrueLearn SmartBanks4 screens
EPAnotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

TrueLearn SmartBanks and EPAnotes are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TrueLearn SmartBanks ships an update every 3 weeks, EPAnotes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
TrueLearn SmartBanks versus EPAnotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrueLearn SmartBanksEPAnotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (2.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews27.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB38 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTrueLearn, LLCAptitools LLC

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

EPAnotes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TrueLearn SmartBanks

No in-app purchases

None

EPAnotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TrueLearn SmartBanks free?
TrueLearn SmartBanks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EPAnotes free?
EPAnotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TrueLearn SmartBanks or EPAnotes have ads?
Neither TrueLearn SmartBanks nor EPAnotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TrueLearn SmartBanks or EPAnotes?
TrueLearn SmartBanks ships an update every 3 weeks, and EPAnotes every 10 days. Most recently, TrueLearn SmartBanks was updated on October 17, 2026 and EPAnotes on October 14, 2026.

Other comparisons