# ABFM vs Thalamus

The clearest difference is update cadence: Thalamus at every 3 months against ABFM's every 18 months. Thalamus also leads on device support (3 vs 1). ABFM's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.1). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ABFM ships an update every 18 months, Thalamus every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABFM | Thalamus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.8 (492 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thalamus/id918406174/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **492** |
| Positive reviews | — | 6.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 8 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Internet Testing Systems (ITS)](https://appshunter.io/developer/546817214) | [SJ MedConnect, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/918406173) |

## What reviewers say

### ABFM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abfm-ite/id669484647)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Thalamus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thalamus/id918406174)

This app offers a real-time system for scheduling interviews and coordinating travel for medical residency and fellowship applicants. It streamlines communication and allows applicants to self-schedule, manage confirmations, cancellations, and waitlists, giving them control over their interview dates.

**Highlights:** Real-time interview scheduling, Travel coordination, Self-scheduling for applicants, Automated confirmations and cancellations, Waitlist management, Streamlined communication

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great app
- 🗓️ Helps organize interviews
- 🔔 Timely notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Difficulty staying logged in
- 📱 Poor mobile experience
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive
- 🤯 Frustrating user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App won't load or open
- Frequent logout issues
- Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
- Unreliable notification system

**Requested features**

- Allow access via mobile browser
- Improve login persistence
- Add more calendar and scheduling features
- Provide better visibility into interview details


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ABFM free?

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

### Is Thalamus free?

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

### Do ABFM or Thalamus have ads?

Neither ABFM nor Thalamus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABFM or Thalamus?

ABFM ships an update every 18 months, and Thalamus every 3 months. Most recently, ABFM was updated on October 26, 2026 and Thalamus on October 24, 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.*