# DSM vs NASW

The clearest difference is rating: DSM at 4.7 against NASW's 3.9. DSM also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (308 vs 7). NASW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DSM sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. NASW asks for nothing beyond the download.

DSM holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DSM has 308 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

DSM ships an update every 4 months, NASW every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DSM | NASW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dsm-5/id1576503453/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasw/id1622576984/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **308** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 35 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MastrAPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618627725) | [National Association of Socialworkers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439079250) |

## What reviewers say

### DSM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dsm-5/id1576503453)

Prepare for the DSM-5 exam with a comprehensive mobile study guide. It offers practice questions, personalized study plans, and detailed performance tracking to boost your confidence and improve diagnostic skills.

**Highlights:** Personalized study plan, 500+ practice questions, Strength and weakness tracking, Detailed test statistics, Community score comparison, Updated for DSM-5-TR

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly with Trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### NASW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasw/id1622576984)

Stay informed about national and local news and events from the National Association of Social Workers. Access a comprehensive platform for social work resources, including job opportunities, continuing education, and research materials.

**Highlights:** NASW news and events, Social work opportunities, Professional development, Continuing education, Job board, Research library, Social Work Talks Podcast

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DSM free?

DSM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NASW free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DSM or NASW?

DSM is rated higher. DSM averages 4.7 out of 5 from 308 ratings, while NASW averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do DSM or NASW have ads?

NASW shows ads; DSM does not.

### Which is updated more often, DSM or NASW?

DSM ships an update every 4 months, and NASW every 6 months. Most recently, DSM was updated on October 22, 2026 and NASW on October 24, 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.*