TRC vs Pharmacy Shift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TRC
This educational app provides essential pharmacology knowledge for medical and biopharmaceutical students, as well as healthcare professionals. It covers drug mechanisms, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics with explanatory texts, graphics, and feedback questions. The app references European drug formularies and is updated regularly.
- Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
- Drug mechanisms in context
- Graphic explanations
- Explanatory texts
- Questions with feedback
- References to drug formularies
- Regular updates
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The Teaching Resource Centre (TRC) Pharmacology is meant for medical or biopharmaceutical students, but also very useful for any health care professional. The TRC and TRCapp provides basic pharmacological knowledge: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and drug mechanisms in context of (patho)physiology. Each topic includes graphic(s) in the TRC icon language, explanatory texts and questions with feedback. The TRC covers most relevant drugs prescribed in Europe. Each drug topic has references to the Dutch national formulary (Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas) or the British National Formulary (choose preference in the settings menu). The TRC can be used as a reference or as self-study tool during courses throughout the medical curriculum. The TRC helps students to obtain pharmacological knowledge providing a consistent, user friendly, recognizable, and structured presentation in order to optimize learning efficiency. Students may choose to browse through the extensive library, or use the search option in the main menu. We strive to make this application the best resource for mechanisms of drug action in the context of physiology and pathophysiology by creating each topic in cooperation with an expert from the field. Graphics, texts, questions, and other reference data are provided to enhance the understanding of the user. The App is kept up to date with the newest drugs and thus updated regularly, but please notify us using the feedback button in the settings menu.
Pharmacy Shift
Study pharmacology through engaging gameplay. Sort medications by use or class, receive clear explanations, and utilize spaced repetition for effective learning. Focus on areas needing improvement with quick, offline sessions.
- Sort medications by use
- Learn drug classification
- Active learning with explanations
- Drug hint system
- Spaced repetition review
- Offline progress tracking
- Short study sessions
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Pharmacy Shift makes studying pharmacology feel like a game. Learn drug uses and classes, review what you miss, and build confidence through short, focused shifts. LEARN BY PLAYING Sort medications onto the correct shelf and get immediate feedback. Each shift turns pharmacology practice into a quick, focused challenge instead of another round of rereading lists and notes. PRACTICE IN TWO WAYS By Use Learn to connect medications with what they’re used for across major areas of medicine. By Class Practice recognizing pharmacological classes, drug families, and common naming patterns. Explore 17 pharmacology topics, including antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, CNS, respiratory, antivirals, anesthesia, oncology, endocrinology, allergy & immunity, and more. GET AN EXPLANATION AFTER EVERY ANSWER Every answer comes with a clear explanation to help you connect the medication with its use, class, mechanism, or key fact. USE HINTS WHEN YOU NEED THEM Tap a medication card for a helpful clue. The timer pauses while you read, so you can think without rushing. REVIEW WHAT YOU MISS Spaced repetition brings medications back for review over time. Drugs you answer incorrectly can also return sooner, helping you focus on weaker areas and keep key facts fresh for exams. DRUG REFERENCE Browse hundreds of medications in the built-in Drug Reference. Search by drug name, explore drug classes, and quickly review explanations and key facts. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See what you’ve mastered across different pharmacology topics and keep building your knowledge shift by shift. STUDY IN SHORT SESSIONS Complete a shift between classes, during a break, or before an exam. No account is required. The app works offline, and your progress is stored on your device. SHIFT+ Start with a guided first shift and a short By Class demo. Shift+ unlocks the full Pharmacy Shift experience, including all pharmacology topics and gameplay modes. Monthly and annual subscription options are available. The Drug Reference remains available without a subscription. Pharmacy Shift is available in English and Russian. This app is intended for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, or clinical decision-making. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TRC at 5.0 against Pharmacy Shift's 4.0. TRC also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Pharmacy Shift's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Pharmacy Shift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. TRC asks for nothing beyond the download.
TRC holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.
TRC ships an update every 2 months, Pharmacy Shift every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TRC | Pharmacy Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | 9 to 5 | Nikita Bulygin |
Customer experience
TRC
Pharmacy Shift
In-app purchases
TRC
No in-app purchases
Pharmacy Shift
- Shift+ Monthly$4.991 Month
- Shift+ Annual$39.991 Year









