# Core Anesthesia vs Hoffman Anesthesia

The clearest difference is monetization model: Core Anesthesia at free with in-app purchases against Hoffman Anesthesia's subscription. Core Anesthesia also leads on ratings volume (535 vs 2) and chart position (#189 vs unranked). Hoffman Anesthesia's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Anesthesia sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Hoffman Anesthesia sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Core Anesthesia against 5.0 for Hoffman Anesthesia. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Core Anesthesia has 535 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, Hoffman Anesthesia every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Anesthesia | Hoffman Anesthesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (535 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-anesthesia/id1635172045/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoffman-anesthesia/id6764451090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **535** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 90.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#189** | — |
| Size | 52 MB | 292 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Student Nurse Anesthesia LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630193394) | [Hoffman Anesthesia Solutions, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894088127) |

## 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


### Hoffman Anesthesia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoffman-anesthesia/id6764451090)

This clinical reference app provides anesthesia professionals and students with precision tools and educational resources. It features advanced calculators for pediatric dosing and local anesthetics, an AI-powered question answering tool, and a community forum for clinical discussion.

**Highlights:** Pediatric Comprehensive Calculator, Local Anesthetic Calculator, Coagulation Cascade Simulator, AI-powered clinical question answering, Fellowship-level anesthesia education guides, Clinician community forum

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sciatic Nerve Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ilioinguinal & Iliohypogastric Blk | $0.99 | one-time |
| Intercostal Nerve Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Paravertebral Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rectus Sheath Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Transverse Abdominus Plane Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Adductor Canal Block | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cardiac Anesthesia | $1.99 | one-time |
| Surgical Services Premium Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Regional Anesthesia Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Anesthesia free?

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

### Is Hoffman Anesthesia free?

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

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

Hoffman Anesthesia is rated higher. Core Anesthesia averages 4.9 out of 5 from 535 ratings, while Hoffman Anesthesia averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Core Anesthesia or Hoffman Anesthesia have ads?

Neither Core Anesthesia nor Hoffman Anesthesia shows ads.

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

Core Anesthesia ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hoffman Anesthesia every 3 days. Most recently, Core Anesthesia was updated on October 11, 2026 and Hoffman Anesthesia on October 6, 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.*