Comparison

Case Files vs CLA NBME

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Case Files

Prepare for medical exams with realistic clinical case studies and USMLE-style questions. Learn through interactive cases, clinical pearls, and proven study methods designed to improve shelf-exam scores and real-world practice readiness.

Highlights
  • Realistic clinical case studies
  • USMLE-style practice questions
  • Interactive learning system
  • Clinical pearls and explanations
  • Study, Exam, and Bookmark modes
  • Progress tracking and notes
Features
Read full description

Explore the Case Files® Series in One App — Discover the full Case Files collection—covering 20+ medical specialties—with real clinical cases designed to help you think like a doctor. Learn Through Real Clinical Cases -Preview sample cases from each title and experience case-based learning across specialties including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Microbiology, Neurology, and more. Built for Exam Success -Prepare for USMLE Step 1, shelf exams, and clinical rotations with high-yield content: • Clinical case scenarios across specialties • USMLE-style questions and explanations • Key concepts, definitions, and clinical pearls • Proven case-based learning system Try Before You Unlock -Download to explore sample cases from each specialty. Unlock full access to individual titles based on your needs. The Trusted Case Files® System • Real-world clinical scenarios • Designed for medical students and clinical training • Helps you understand—not memorize Expanded Apps Terms of Service: https://expandedapps.com/terms-of-use/ Expanded Apps Privacy Policy: https://expandedapps.com/privacy-policy/

About

CLA NBME

This tool helps healthcare providers enhance their communication skills through video-based learning. It requires a username and password for access and features actor portrayals of patients.

Highlights
  • Communication skills improvement
  • Video patient simulations
  • Healthcare provider focused
  • Requires login credentials
  • Actor portrayals
Read full description

The Communication Learning Assessment (CLA) is a tool designed to help healthcare providers improve their communication skills. Note: A username and password is required to use this app. Please contact NBME (http://www.nbme.org) for details. Videos of patients are actor portrayals.

Screenshots

Case Files4 screens
CLA NBME4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Case Files at 60% against CLA NBME's 0%. CLA NBME's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Case Files sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. CLA NBME asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Case Files ships an update every 4 months, CLA NBME monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Case Files versus CLA NBME: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCase FilesCLA NBME
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB69 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperExpanded AppsNational Board of Medical Examiners

Customer experience

Case Files

Written reviews15 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

CLA NBME

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Case Files

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Week$9.997 Days
  • 1 Month$18.991 Month
One-time11
  • Emergency Medicine$29.99
  • Family Medicine$29.99
  • Neurology$29.99
Show 8 more
  • Gynaecology$29.99
  • Pediatrics$29.99
  • Psychiatry$29.99
  • Surgery$29.99
  • Lifetime Access$29.99
  • Family Medicine Case Files, 4e$34.99
  • Lifetime Access2 variants$39.99
  • Microbiology Case Files, 3e$39.99
None

CLA NBME

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Case Files free?
Case Files is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CLA NBME free?
CLA NBME is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Case Files or CLA NBME have ads?
Neither Case Files nor CLA NBME shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Case Files or CLA NBME?
Case Files ships an update every 4 months, and CLA NBME monthly. Most recently, Case Files was updated on October 15, 2026 and CLA NBME on October 24, 2026.

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