# NEXT STEPS USMLE vs Oncourse AI

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Oncourse AI at 97% against NEXT STEPS USMLE's 33%. Oncourse AI also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (445 vs 3). NEXT STEPS USMLE's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NEXT STEPS USMLE sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Oncourse AI sells 32 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Oncourse AI holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Oncourse AI has 445 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of NEXT STEPS USMLE's written reviews are positive against 97% of Oncourse AI's.

NEXT STEPS USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, Oncourse AI weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NEXT STEPS USMLE | Oncourse AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-steps-usmle/id6499212421/reviews) | **[4.8 (445 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oncourse-ai-study-mate/id6504909373/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **445** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **96.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [NEXTSTEPS CAREERS CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742770142) | [Oncourse Learning Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1754307688) |

## What reviewers say

### NEXT STEPS USMLE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-steps-usmle/id6499212421)

This app offers a structured learning method for medical licensing exams, featuring daily testing, mock quizzes, and extensive video resources. It provides progress tracking and live classes to enhance preparation and retention.

**Highlights:** Daily scheduling and targets, Integrated daily testing, Weekend mock quizzes, Progress tracking and analytics, Over 500 hours of video resources, Revision and rapid review series, Live classes and recorded sessions

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Step 2CK Crash Course | $499.99 | one-time |
| Endocrine system | $1000.00 | one-time |
| USMLE STEP 1 Part 1 | $1000.00 | one-time |
| Crash Course Step 1 | $1000.00 | one-time |


### Oncourse AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oncourse-ai-study-mate/id6504909373)

This AI-powered study companion helps medical students prepare for high-stakes exams like USMLE and NEET-PG. It offers personalized notes, flashcards, practice questions, and case simulations to enhance learning and retention.

**Highlights:** AI study partner for personalized learning, High-yield flashcards with spaced repetition, Extensive question bank with exam-pattern questions, Concise lessons and visually rich notes, Gamified learning modules, Smart notes conversion from photos/PDFs, Personalized analytics and progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases (32)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Max 1 Month No Trial | $3.99 | per month |
| Oncourse Max 1 Month | $3.99 | per month |
| Max 1 Week No Trial | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| NCLEX-MCAT Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Max 1 Month - 3 Day Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Max 1 Month - 2 Week Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Max 1 month (25% Off) | $11.99 | per month |
| Oncourse Max | $11.99 | per month |
| Max 1 Month No Trial | $14.99 | per month |
| Max 6 months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Oncourse Max 3 Months | $21.99 | per 3 months |
| Oncourse Max 3 Months | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Max 12 Months No Trial | $29.99 | per year |
| Max 12 months | $29.99 | per year |
| NCLEX-MCAT Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Max 6 months 25 Off | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Oncourse MAX 6 Months - 3 Day Trial | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Max 6 Months - 2 Week Trial | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Max 12 Months 30% Off | $59.90 | per year |
| Oncourse MAX - 75% Off | $59.90 | per year |
| Max 6 Months | $59.99 | per 6 months |
| Max 12 Months (80% Off) | $64.90 | per year |
| Max 12 Months - One Time Offer | $64.90 | per year |
| Oncourse Max 12 Months | $79.90 | per year |
| Max 1 Year No Trial | $79.99 | per year |
| Max 12 Months - 2 Week Trial | $89.99 | per year |
| Oncourse MAX 1 Year - 3 Day Trial | $99.99 | per year |
| Oncourse Max 6 Months 1 Nov 2025 | $119.99 | per 6 months |
| Oncourse Max Annual 1 Nov 2025 | $239.99 | per year |
| Oncourse Max - Discounted | $21.99 | one-time |
| Oncourse Max - One Time Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |
| Oncourse Max Lifetime | $149.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NEXT STEPS USMLE free?

NEXT STEPS USMLE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Oncourse AI free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NEXT STEPS USMLE or Oncourse AI?

Oncourse AI is rated higher. NEXT STEPS USMLE averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Oncourse AI averages 4.8 from 445 ratings.

### Do NEXT STEPS USMLE or Oncourse AI have ads?

Oncourse AI shows ads; NEXT STEPS USMLE does not.

### Which is updated more often, NEXT STEPS USMLE or Oncourse AI?

NEXT STEPS USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, and Oncourse AI weekly. Most recently, NEXT STEPS USMLE was updated on October 3, 2026 and Oncourse AI on October 17, 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.*