# Kaplan MCAT vs NextStep

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NextStep at 100% against Kaplan MCAT's 5%. NextStep also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Kaplan MCAT's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (264 vs 4). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NextStep holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kaplan MCAT has 264 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of Kaplan MCAT's written reviews are positive against 100% of NextStep's.

Kaplan MCAT ships an update every 3 months, NextStep fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kaplan MCAT | NextStep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (264 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kaplan-mcat/id1556269310/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **264** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 4.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 66 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kaplan](https://appshunter.io/developer/426399130) | [Josh Hoffman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822360954) |

## What reviewers say

### Kaplan MCAT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kaplan-mcat/id1556269310)

This mobile app serves as a companion for Kaplan's MCAT prep courses, offering on-the-go access to study materials. It features a Qbank with thousands of questions, video lessons, flashcards, and progress tracking that syncs with your desktop account.

**Highlights:** Qbank quizzes with 3,000+ questions, Detailed question explanations, Video Library access, Flashcards for science concepts, Progress tracking and performance analytics, Customizable quizzes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Custom quizzes
- 👍 Flashcards
- 👍 Review videos
- 👍 Simple to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App logs out on close
- 🐛 Quizzes don't resume
- 🐛 Login issues persist
- 🐛 Constant "Loading Data"
- 🐛 Incompatible with older courses

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot log in, redirects to login screen
- App logs out immediately after login
- App stays on login page after entering credentials
- App won't allow sign-in, returns to home screen
- App immediately logs out when closed

**Requested features**

- Optional auto-login feature
- Easy textbook access
- Live session integration
- Schedule access
- Text size options for flashcards


### NextStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105)

This app helps pre-med students organize their academic and extracurricular activities. It allows users to log hours, track progress towards goals, and manage application milestones efficiently. Designed by former students, it aims to reduce stress in the med school application process.

**Highlights:** Experience logging for various activities, Hour tracking and statistical visualization, Customizable goals and reminders, Offline functionality, AI-powered insights (coming soon), Built by pre-med students

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kaplan MCAT free?

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

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kaplan MCAT or NextStep?

NextStep is rated higher. Kaplan MCAT averages 4.2 out of 5 from 264 ratings, while NextStep averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Kaplan MCAT or NextStep have ads?

NextStep shows ads; Kaplan MCAT does not.

### Which is updated more often, Kaplan MCAT or NextStep?

Kaplan MCAT ships an update every 3 months, and NextStep fortnightly. Most recently, Kaplan MCAT was updated on October 15, 2026 and NextStep on September 18, 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.*