Comparison

USMLE Step 1 Mastery vs USMLE

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

Head to head
About

USMLE Step 1 Mastery

Prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam with over 1,800 practice questions, including vignette-style and basic science items. Access extensive audio/video content, mnemonics, definitions, and drug flashcards. Track your performance with in-depth statistics to ensure you achieve your desired results.

Highlights
  • 1,800+ practice questions
  • Vignette-style questions
  • Basic science questions
  • Audio/video content
  • Mnemonics and definitions
  • Drug flashcards
  • Performance statistics
Features
Read full description

Got questions? USMLE Step 1 Mastery offers over 1,800 items. Use this best-selling study solution while on breaks at the hospital or between classes. Pass USMLE Step 1 guaranteed, or your money back! Subscribe today and get access to: • 750+ vignette-style practice questions with explanations • 28+ hours of audio/video content, including heart/lung sounds and high-yield lectures. • 1,100+ basic science questions with explanations • 250+ mnemonics • 500+ definitions • 60+ generic drug flashcards • In-depth statistics regarding performance Let USMLE Step 1 Mastery help you achieve the results you have been working towards! Get access to all questions when you subscribe. This app offers two auto-renewing subscription options to help you pass your exam. • 1 Month: one auto-renewing payment of $14.99 • 12 Months: one auto-renewing payment of $59.99 -Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase -Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period -Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal -Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase -Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable These prices are for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. Our Customer Success Team is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday (except on major holidays). Call us at 319-246-5271 and email us at support@hltcorp.com with any questions. Privacy Policy - http://builtbyhlt.com/privacy Terms of Conditions - http://builtbyhlt.com/EULA

About

USMLE

Master medical school and the USMLE with a comprehensive resource app. Access board-style questions, interactive learning modules, flashcards, and videos. Study anytime, anywhere with cloud syncing and personalized study tools.

Highlights
  • Thousands of USMLE board-style questions
  • Nearly 800 eLearning modules
  • Over 14,000 flashcards
  • Over 80 hours of high-yield videos
  • Cloud syncing across devices
  • Spaced repetition study tool
Read full description

USMLE-Rx (by ScholarRx) Ready to own the USMLE and master medical school? Now you can access any high-yield USMLE-Rx tool in one great app!* Get on-the-go access to USMLE board-style questions, Rx Bricks, flash cards, and videos. Qmax: Study anytime, anywhere with your USMLE-Rx Qmax Subscription: · Thousands of high-yield Step 1 questions, images, and explanations · All your tests sync to the cloud for immediate access on any device · Quiz yourself in multiple test modes with different question types · Get detailed performance stats Rx Bricks · Nearly 800 high-yield, patient-centered eLearning modules · “Need-to-know” topics succinctly explained with simple "clear language" explanations, often in under 20 minutes · Clinical correlations, real-world stories, memorable mnemonics, and more · Assess your understanding with measurable objectives, interactive flashcards, and practice questions built into each module Flash Facts Learning is literally at your fingertips with Step 1 Flash Facts: · Over 14,000 flash cards help you nail USMLE Step 1 content quickly and efficiently · Case-based flash cards put basic science concepts in a clinical context · Study Stream uses spaced repetition to give you flash cards based on your own study schedule as well as your strengths and weaknesses · Daily reporting helps you track your progress · All your cards and progress sync to the cloud for immediate access on any connected device · Searchable by organ system, discipline, and topic Express Videos · Over 80 hours of high-yield videos, over 1,300 videos in all · 600+ images, helpful diagrams, and multimedia clips · Integrations across multiple topics form strong, lasting connections to help you in class and on test day *Requires a valid subscription to Rx360+, USMLE-Rx Step 1 Qmax or Step 2CK Qmax, Rx Bricks, Step 1 Flash Facts, and/or Express Videos. Terms and Conditions: https://www.usmle-rx.com/terms-and-conditions/ Privacy Policy: https://www.usmle-rx.com/privacy/

Screenshots

USMLE Step 1 Mastery4 screens
USMLE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: USMLE at free with in-app purchases against USMLE Step 1 Mastery's subscription. USMLE also leads on ratings volume (5K vs 216). USMLE Step 1 Mastery's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 49%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. USMLE Step 1 Mastery sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and USMLE sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for USMLE Step 1 Mastery against 4.7 for USMLE. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: USMLE has 5K ratings behind it against 216, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of USMLE Step 1 Mastery's written reviews are positive against 49% of USMLE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, USMLE every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
USMLE Step 1 Mastery versus USMLE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUSMLE Step 1 MasteryUSMLE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (216 ratings)4.7 (5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better48.9% of reviews
Number of ratings2165K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB40 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperHigher Learning TechnologiesMedIQ Learning, LLC

Customer experience

USMLE Step 1 Mastery

All ratings216 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral5.6%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.3%

USMLE

All ratings5,006 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive48.9%
Neutral17.0%
Negative34.1%

Bugs and requests

USMLE Step 1 Mastery

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App freezes and crashes during account creation
  • App crashes while trying to create an account

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more Q-bank questions
  • Include a way to make notes
  • Corrections on writing and punctuation
  • Updates available?

USMLE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

USMLE Step 1 Mastery

Subscriptions3
  • USMLE Step 1 - 1 Month3 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • USMLE Step 1 - 3 Months3 Days trial$24.993 Months
  • USMLE Step 1 - 12 Months3 Days trial$35.991 Year
1 purchases

USMLE

Subscriptions1
  • RX360+$49.991 Month

Questions

Is USMLE Step 1 Mastery free?
USMLE Step 1 Mastery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is USMLE free?
USMLE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE?
USMLE is rated higher. USMLE Step 1 Mastery averages 4.6 out of 5 from 216 ratings, while USMLE averages 4.7 from 5K ratings.
Do USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE have ads?
Neither USMLE Step 1 Mastery nor USMLE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE?
USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, and USMLE every 6 weeks. Most recently, USMLE Step 1 Mastery was updated on November 11, 2026 and USMLE on November 11, 2026.

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