# Board Buddy USMLE vs MedSteps

The clearest difference is update cadence: MedSteps at every 3 days against Board Buddy USMLE's every 2 weeks. MedSteps also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 80%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Board Buddy USMLE sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month and MedSteps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MedSteps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Board Buddy USMLE's written reviews are positive against 100% of MedSteps's.

Board Buddy USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, MedSteps every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Board Buddy USMLE | MedSteps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/board-buddy-usmle/id6756011006/reviews) | **[5.0 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsteps-fun-med-learning/id6758428604/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 146 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Blake Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857948179) | [Jhon Reynoso](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872895979) |

## What reviewers say

### Board Buddy USMLE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/board-buddy-usmle/id6756011006)

This app transforms studying for the USMLE Step 1 into an engaging experience with interactive games. It offers free games for high-yield topics and a premium subscription for over 20 medical games, practice questions, and 3D anatomy.

**Highlights:** Interactive study games, Active recall learning, High-yield topic focus, 3,000+ practice questions, 3D anatomy modules, AI-powered explanations

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan (Promo) | $29.99 | per month |
| 6-Month | $149.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly | $199.99 | per year |


### MedSteps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medsteps-fun-med-learning/id6758428604)

This app is a revolutionary learning platform for medical students and professionals. It uses AI-powered questions, interactive activities, and gamified experiences to help users master complex medical concepts. Study anytime, anywhere with offline access and detailed expert explanations.

**Highlights:** AI-powered questions, Interactive learning activities, Gamified study experience, Extensive question banks (ENURM, MIR, ENARM), Global medical exams preparation, Offline study mode, Detailed expert explanations

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MedSteps Pro - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| MedSteps Pro - Trimestral | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Meses | $44.99 | per 6 months |
| MedSteps Pro - Annual | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Board Buddy USMLE free?

Board Buddy USMLE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MedSteps free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Board Buddy USMLE or MedSteps?

MedSteps is rated higher. Board Buddy USMLE averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while MedSteps averages 5.0 from 25 ratings.

### Do Board Buddy USMLE or MedSteps have ads?

Neither Board Buddy USMLE nor MedSteps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Board Buddy USMLE or MedSteps?

Board Buddy USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, and MedSteps every 3 days. Most recently, Board Buddy USMLE was updated on October 25, 2026 and MedSteps on October 28, 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.*