# Board Buddy USMLE vs Step Gunner

Board Buddy USMLE and Step Gunner both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Step Gunner's written reviews are positive against 80% of Board Buddy USMLE's. Step Gunner also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). Board Buddy USMLE's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 Step Gunner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Board Buddy USMLE against 4.8 for Step Gunner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 24 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Board Buddy USMLE's written reviews are positive against 100% of Step Gunner's.

Board Buddy USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, Step Gunner every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Board Buddy USMLE | Step Gunner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/board-buddy-usmle/id6756011006/reviews) | **[4.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-gunner/id6761317357/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 146 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Blake Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857948179) | [Rezumab LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873578655) |

## 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 |


### Step Gunner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-gunner/id6761317357)

Prepare for your USMLE Step 2 CK exam with this study app. It uses spaced repetition, timed challenges, and AI-powered explanations to help you master high-yield content. Track your progress with gamified features and compete with classmates.

**Highlights:** Spaced repetition learning system, High-yield question bank, Timed challenges (Rapid Fire Mode), AI-powered explanations, Gamified study features (XP, leaderboards), Progress tracking and daily goals

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Step Gunner Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Step Gunner Pro Yearly | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Board Buddy USMLE free?

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

### Is Step Gunner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Board Buddy USMLE or Step Gunner?

Step Gunner is rated higher. Board Buddy USMLE averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Step Gunner averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.

### Do Board Buddy USMLE or Step Gunner have ads?

Neither Board Buddy USMLE nor Step Gunner shows ads.

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

Board Buddy USMLE ships an update every 2 weeks, and Step Gunner every 6 days. Most recently, Board Buddy USMLE was updated on October 30, 2026 and Step Gunner on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*