# Core Anesthesia vs CCRN Exam Prep

The clearest difference is ads: Core Anesthesia at none against CCRN Exam Prep's shown. Core Anesthesia also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). CCRN Exam Prep's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Anesthesia sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and CCRN Exam Prep sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Core Anesthesia holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 537 and 852 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Core Anesthesia's written reviews are positive against 80% of CCRN Exam Prep's.

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, CCRN Exam Prep every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Anesthesia | CCRN Exam Prep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (537 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045/reviews)** | [4.7 (852 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ccrn-exam-prep-pass-2026-test/id6444069473/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 537 | **852** |
| Positive reviews | **90.2% of reviews** | 79.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Student Nurse Anesthesia LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630193394) | [Best Fun Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/896888007) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Anesthesia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045)

This app offers a curriculum of audio episodes for CRNAs and students to earn CEUs, pass tests, and review for boards. Designed for busy schedules, episodes can be listened to anywhere and include printed outlines and sources.

**Highlights:** Continuing education episodes, Board review content, Podcast format for on-the-go learning, Printed outlines and sources included, Designed for CRNAs and students

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Student Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| CRNA Premium Monthly | $64.99 | per month |
| Student Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| CRNA Premium Quarterly | $179.00 | per 3 months |
| CRNA Premium Yearly | $599.00 | per year |
| Airway Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Equipment Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pharmacology Core Module | $49.99 | one-time |
| Anatomy Core Module | $149.99 | one-time |
| core_crna_10 | $199.00 | one-time |
| core_crna_30 | $299.00 | one-time |
| CRNA USAP 25% | $449.99 | one-time |
| CRNA Promotion | $539.00 | one-time |
| core_crna_60 | $599.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎓 Excellent content quality and depth
- 👨‍🏫 Talented hosts (Cole and Tanner) who explain complex topics clearly
- 🚀 Perfect episode length for commutes and busy schedules
- 📱 Easy-to-use app interface
- 🎯 Content aligns well with CRNA school curriculum

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗂️ Poor episode organization and filtering options
- 🧭 Confusing navigation and discoverability of content
- 🐛 Playback issues without Wi-Fi connectivity
- ❓ Inconsistent premium content access and display
- 📍 Difficulty locating specific episodes despite search function

**Reported bugs**

- Episodes won't play offline or without Wi-Fi despite having data
- Premium subscription doesn't always unlock premium-labeled episodes
- Home screen categories don't display all available episodes
- Inconsistent episode visibility between app and podcast platforms
- Playback buffering and connectivity issues in the car

**Requested features**

- Chronological episode listing (1 to most recent)
- Better filtering and sorting options
- Episode download capability for offline listening
- Improved search functionality for specific topics
- Clearer distinction between free and premium content


### CCRN Exam Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ccrn-exam-prep-pass-2026-test/id6444069473)

Prepare for your CCRN nursing certification exam with realistic practice tests and quizzes. Features over 2000 expert-written questions, detailed explanations, and personalized study plans to help you pass on your first attempt.

**Highlights:** Adult, Neonatal & Pediatric Prep, 2000+ Realistic Questions, Detailed Explanations, Personalized Study Plan, Progress Tracking, Readiness Score

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium monthly subscription | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime premium access | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helpful for CCRN exam preparation
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Convenient on-the-go study tool
- 👍 Detailed rationales for questions
- 👍 Realistic CCRN-style questions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Repeated questions
- 🐛 Typos and grammatical errors in questions
- 🐛 Incomplete or irrelevant rationales
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Questionable free trial practices

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to access new questions after reaching a certain percentage
- Glitches and app malfunctions

**Requested features**

- Ability to focus on specific topics or categories
- Option to take full-length practice exams
- More detailed performance analytics and feedback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Anesthesia free?

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

### Is CCRN Exam Prep free?

CCRN Exam Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Core Anesthesia or CCRN Exam Prep?

Core Anesthesia is rated higher. Core Anesthesia averages 4.9 out of 5 from 537 ratings, while CCRN Exam Prep averages 4.7 from 852 ratings.

### Do Core Anesthesia or CCRN Exam Prep have ads?

CCRN Exam Prep shows ads; Core Anesthesia does not.

### Which is updated more often, Core Anesthesia or CCRN Exam Prep?

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, and CCRN Exam Prep every 5 months. Most recently, Core Anesthesia was updated on October 30, 2026 and CCRN Exam Prep on October 30, 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.*