HPM Exam Prep vs Pharmacy Shift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HPM Exam Prep
Prepare for Hospice and Palliative Medicine board certification with this comprehensive study tool. It features diagnostic quizzes, in-depth content across 11 topics, and extensive practice questions in an exam-like format. Track your progress and identify areas for focused study.
- Diagnostic quizzes to identify weak areas
- In-depth content across 11 HPM topics
- 260+ practice questions with detailed explanations
- 240-question final exam simulation
- Progress tracking by topic
- Clinical vignette question format
Read full descriptionHide full description
HPM Exam Prep is the most comprehensive study tool for physicians preparing for Hospice and Palliative Medicine board certification. Assessment-First Approach Start with a 22-question diagnostic quiz that identifies your strongest and weakest topic areas, so you can focus your study time where it matters most. 11 HPM Topics — Physician-Level Depth Study content written for clinicians, covering specific drug doses, mechanisms, validated assessment tools, and clinical pearls across all exam domains: Pain Management Non-Pain Symptoms Psychiatric Aspects Ethical & Legal Issues Communication Hospice Care Pediatric Palliative Care Geriatric Palliative Care Spiritual & Cultural Care Grief & Bereavement Care Transitions 260+ Practice Questions Topic-specific quizzes with immediate feedback and detailed explanations in clinical vignette format — the same style as the real exam. 240-Question Final Exam Simulate the real HPM certification exam with a full-length 240-question practice test, unlocked after demonstrating mastery in your weak areas. Progress Tracking Monitor your accuracy by topic, review quiz history, and watch your mastery improve over time.
Pharmacy Shift
Study pharmacology through engaging gameplay. Sort medications by use or class, receive clear explanations, and utilize spaced repetition for effective learning. Focus on areas needing improvement with quick, offline sessions.
- Sort medications by use
- Learn drug classification
- Active learning with explanations
- Drug hint system
- Spaced repetition review
- Offline progress tracking
- Short study sessions
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pharmacy Shift makes studying pharmacology feel like a game. Learn drug uses and classes, review what you miss, and build confidence through short, focused shifts. LEARN BY PLAYING Sort medications onto the correct shelf and get immediate feedback. Each shift turns pharmacology practice into a quick, focused challenge instead of another round of rereading lists and notes. PRACTICE IN TWO WAYS By Use Learn to connect medications with what they’re used for across major areas of medicine. By Class Practice recognizing pharmacological classes, drug families, and common naming patterns. Explore 17 pharmacology topics, including antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, CNS, respiratory, antivirals, anesthesia, oncology, endocrinology, allergy & immunity, and more. GET AN EXPLANATION AFTER EVERY ANSWER Every answer comes with a clear explanation to help you connect the medication with its use, class, mechanism, or key fact. USE HINTS WHEN YOU NEED THEM Tap a medication card for a helpful clue. The timer pauses while you read, so you can think without rushing. REVIEW WHAT YOU MISS Spaced repetition brings medications back for review over time. Drugs you answer incorrectly can also return sooner, helping you focus on weaker areas and keep key facts fresh for exams. DRUG REFERENCE Browse hundreds of medications in the built-in Drug Reference. Search by drug name, explore drug classes, and quickly review explanations and key facts. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See what you’ve mastered across different pharmacology topics and keep building your knowledge shift by shift. STUDY IN SHORT SESSIONS Complete a shift between classes, during a break, or before an exam. No account is required. The app works offline, and your progress is stored on your device. SHIFT+ Start with a guided first shift and a short By Class demo. Shift+ unlocks the full Pharmacy Shift experience, including all pharmacology topics and gameplay modes. Monthly and annual subscription options are available. The Drug Reference remains available without a subscription. Pharmacy Shift is available in English and Russian. This app is intended for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, or clinical decision-making. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: HPM Exam Prep at every 5 days against Pharmacy Shift's every 6 weeks. HPM Exam Prep also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. HPM Exam Prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pharmacy Shift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 5.0 for HPM Exam Prep against 5.0 for Pharmacy Shift. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.
HPM Exam Prep ships an update every 5 days, Pharmacy Shift every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HPM Exam Prep | Pharmacy Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Pallium Insights LLC | Nikita Bulygin |
Customer experience
HPM Exam Prep
Pharmacy Shift
In-app purchases
HPM Exam Prep
- HPM Exam Prep Premium$39.99
Pharmacy Shift
- Shift+ Monthly$4.991 Month
- Shift+ Annual$39.991 Year
Questions
Is HPM Exam Prep free?
Is Pharmacy Shift free?
Which has better reviews, HPM Exam Prep or Pharmacy Shift?
Do HPM Exam Prep or Pharmacy Shift have ads?
Which is updated more often, HPM Exam Prep or Pharmacy Shift?
Other comparisons















