Comparison

NCLEX Practice Test vs NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain

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

Head to head
About

NCLEX Practice Test

Features
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NCLEX Practice Test — Free Practice Tests & Exam Prep Pass your NCLEX Practice Test on the first try with hundreds of real practice questions, detailed answer explanations, and instant scoring. FEATURES: • Hundreds of practice questions with detailed explanations • Instant scoring and performance tracking • Study mode and timed test mode • Covers all exam topics and domains • Free — no account required Whether you're a first-time test-taker or brushing up before your exam, our NCLEX Practice Test app gives you everything you need to succeed. Download now and start practicing for free!

About

NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain

Features
Read full description

Pass the NCLEX with a coach in your pocket. NCLEX Prep turns a mountain of material into small, guided steps, with a friendly study guide named Pulse cheering you on. Every day the app picks three short steps for you: learn something new, practice it, then review what's starting to fade. No planning, no overwhelm. Just open the app and tap Start. 1,000+ NCLEX-STYLE QUESTIONS Practice across all 8 client-need sections of the NCLEX test plan, with single-answer and select-all-that-apply questions. Every question has a rationale, and a Hint button coaches you on test strategy (prioritization, delegation, therapeutic communication) without giving the answer away. NEXT GENERATION NCLEX (NGN) Work through 24 unfolding case studies with a client record that updates as the case unfolds, following all six steps of clinical judgment. Practice every NGN item type: bow-tie, matrix, drop-down, highlight, multiple response and trend, scored with partial credit like the real exam. AM I READY? Take an adaptive exam that gets harder or easier with your answers, like the real NCLEX, and stops once it's confident. You get an estimated pass likelihood and a section-by-section breakdown. LEARN EVERY SECTION, STEP BY STEP Each section is a colorful guided path: • Read: 40 bite-size lessons with key points, exam traps and clinical pearls • Memorize: 32 memory tricks you learn letter by letter, plus 150+ flashcards on a spaced-repetition schedule • Recall: fill-in-the-blank drills • Play: a learning game for every section • Prove: exam-style section quizzes 11 LEARNING GAMES Delegation Dash, PPE Gear Up, Lab Range Rush, ABG Decoder, Suffix Sleuth, Therapeutic Talk, Position Pro, Milestone Match, Med Match, Priority Sort and Vital Check turn high-yield facts into quick, fun reps. SMART REVIEW Every answer is tracked. Review Missed brings back the questions you got wrong, and Weak Spot Drills aim straight at your lowest sections. A PLAN THAT FITS YOUR EXAM DATE Set your NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN date and get a daily goal, a countdown and gentle reminders. Add the Question of the Day widget to your Home Screen, and your progress syncs across your devices with iCloud. 100% FREE Every section, question, case study, game and adaptive exam is free for everyone. NCLEX Prep is supported by ads: you'll see a banner between some cards and a short ad before quiz and exam results, never in the middle of a question. Want a break? Watch one short video and study with no ads for 30 minutes. Privacy Policy: https://www.paynebrain.com/nclexprivacy.html NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN. It is a study aid; always follow current clinical guidelines and your facility's policies.

Screenshots

NCLEX Practice Test4 screens
NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NCLEX Practice Test at none against NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain's 1. NCLEX Practice Test also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads 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. NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NCLEX Practice Test asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
NCLEX Practice Test versus NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNCLEX Practice TestNCLEX Prep by PayneBrain
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB16 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBen WallenbergCarlton Payne III

In-app purchases

None

NCLEX Practice Test

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain

One-time1
  • NCLEX Pro Unlock$49.99

Questions

Is NCLEX Practice Test free?
NCLEX Practice Test is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain free?
NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NCLEX Practice Test or NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain have ads?
Both NCLEX Practice Test and NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain show ads.
Which is updated more often, NCLEX Practice Test or NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain?
NCLEX Practice Test ships an update every 5 months, and NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain every 5 months. Most recently, NCLEX Practice Test was updated on October 24, 2026 and NCLEX Prep by PayneBrain on October 25, 2026.

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