Comparison

ABFM vs TrueLearn SmartBanks

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

Head to head
About

ABFM

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The ABFM-ITE program for iPad is a secure solution to support the delivery of the In-Training Examination on the iPad. The purpose of the examination is to provide an assessment of each resident's progress, while also providing programs with comparative data about the program as a whole. All ACGME-accredited Family Medicine programs are eligible to take the In-Training Examination.

About

TrueLearn SmartBanks

This app provides exam-style practice questions and detailed explanations to improve test-taking skills. It offers custom quizzes, performance dashboards, and a wide variety of question types for standardized tests.

Highlights
  • Exam-style practice questions
  • Rich answer explanations
  • Custom quizzes by topic
  • Performance dashboards
  • Multiple question types
  • Computer-simulated testing environment
Features
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We created the TrueLearn app to help learners become great test takers. Whether you need USMLE Step 1 practice questions or NBCOT® exam prep, we provide an unparalleled testing experience that improves exam performance. We believe every learner has the potential to become a better standardized test-taker. Because TrueLearn SmartBanks are not just another qbank. Our platform features include: -Exam-style practice questions with rich answer explanations that fundamentally improve your understanding to easily identify what you missed, understand why incorrect answers are wrong, and grasp why the correct answer is the best choice. -Custom quizzes around topics where you score low in a computer-simulated environment with practice questions written in the same style you will encounter on test day. -Performance dashboards that provide informative metrics on strengths and weaknesses in real-time – quickly see where you stand compared to peers across the nation. -Multiple question types, including multiple-choice, multi-part, SATA Basic and Advanced, matrix, open answer, matching, and ordering. Free to download, sign-in with your TrueLearn credentials, and start taking practice questions. Each of the SmartBanks are mapped to the corresponding exam and have thousands of practice questions written by board-certified professionals. -COMLEX: Level 1, Level 2, COMAT, & Level 3 -USMLE: Step 1, Step 2 CK, & NBME Shelf -Physician Assistant: PANCE & PANRE -APEX Anesthesia NCE/SEE SRNA Smartbank -Anesthesiology: ITE, BASIC, ADVANCED, ACA, & CME -Emergency Medicine: ABEM ITE & Qualifying -Family Medicine: ABFM ITE & Board Certification -General Surgery: ABSITE, ABS Qualifying, & CME -Internal Medicine: ACP IM-ITE & ABIM Board Certification -Neurology: AAN RITE®, ABPN Certification, & CME -OBGYN: CREOG, ABOG, & CME -Pediatrics: ABP ITE & Certification -Psychiatry: PRITE & ABPN Certification -Radiology: DXIT & CORE -Anesthesiology Assistant: NCCAA -Behavior Analyst: BCBA -Dental Hygiene: NBDHE -Medical Assistant: CMA, RMA, NCMA, CCMA -Nursing: NCLEX-RN® -Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): AANP & ANCC -Occupational Therapy: NBCOT OTR® & COTA® -Pharmacy: NAPLEX -Pharmacy Technician: PTCE® And ExCPT® -Physical Therapy: NPTE PT & PTA -Speech Language Pathology: Praxis® CCC-SLP

Screenshots

TrueLearn SmartBanks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: TrueLearn SmartBanks at every 3 weeks against ABFM's every 18 months. ABFM's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ABFM ships an update every 18 months, TrueLearn SmartBanks every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ABFM versus TrueLearn SmartBanks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterABFMTrueLearn SmartBanks
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (2.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—27.8% of reviews
Number of ratings—2.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS9.3 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB57 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperInternet Testing Systems (ITS)TrueLearn, LLC

Bugs and requests

ABFM

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

TrueLearn SmartBanks

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to access previous tests and quizzes
  • Inconsistent data between app and website
  • Crashing when opening images or lab references
  • Unreliable question submission and tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Ability to highlight and annotate questions
  • Offline question access
  • Feedback mechanism for questions
  • Password/biometric login options

In-app purchases

None

ABFM

No in-app purchases

None

TrueLearn SmartBanks

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ABFM free?
ABFM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TrueLearn SmartBanks free?
TrueLearn SmartBanks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ABFM or TrueLearn SmartBanks have ads?
Neither ABFM nor TrueLearn SmartBanks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ABFM or TrueLearn SmartBanks?
ABFM ships an update every 18 months, and TrueLearn SmartBanks every 3 weeks. Most recently, ABFM was updated on October 12, 2026 and TrueLearn SmartBanks on October 22, 2026.

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