# Core Anesthesia vs AnesBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AnesBuddy at none against Core Anesthesia's 14. AnesBuddy also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). Core Anesthesia's advantage is ratings volume (535 vs 1) and chart position (#189 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Anesthesia sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. AnesBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Core Anesthesia against 5.0 for AnesBuddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Core Anesthesia has 535 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, AnesBuddy every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Anesthesia | AnesBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (535 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anesbuddy/id6756396960/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **535** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 90.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#189** | — |
| Size | 52 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Student Nurse Anesthesia LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630193394) | [Synaptic Collaborations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853301168) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Anesthesia

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

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

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


### AnesBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anesbuddy/id6756396960)

This educational reference app helps anesthesiology residents and students master core concepts and prepare for exams. It provides detailed explanations of formulas, case-based scenarios for practice, and quick access to essential guidelines and protocols.

**Highlights:** Pharmacology and toxicology review, Step-by-step formula derivations, Oral boards case simulator, Guideline and algorithm library, Gastric ultrasound reference

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Anesthesia free?

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

### Is AnesBuddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Core Anesthesia or AnesBuddy?

AnesBuddy is rated higher. Core Anesthesia averages 4.9 out of 5 from 535 ratings, while AnesBuddy averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Core Anesthesia or AnesBuddy have ads?

Neither Core Anesthesia nor AnesBuddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Core Anesthesia or AnesBuddy?

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, and AnesBuddy every 3 days. Most recently, Core Anesthesia was updated on October 11, 2026 and AnesBuddy on October 5, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*