# USMLE Step 1 Mastery vs Valve PPM

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Valve PPM at none against USMLE Step 1 Mastery's 3. Valve PPM also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). USMLE Step 1 Mastery's advantage is ratings volume (216 vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. USMLE Step 1 Mastery sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Valve PPM asks for nothing beyond the download.

Valve PPM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: USMLE Step 1 Mastery has 216 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of USMLE Step 1 Mastery's written reviews are positive against 100% of Valve PPM's.

USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, Valve PPM every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | USMLE Step 1 Mastery | Valve PPM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (216 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usmle-step-1-mastery/id964613157/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valve-ppm/id1604258260/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **216** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 166 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Higher Learning Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/571804544) | [KRUTSCH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454678018) |

## What reviewers say

### USMLE Step 1 Mastery

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usmle-step-1-mastery/id964613157)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USMLE Step 1 - 1 Month | $11.99 | per month |
| USMLE Step 1 - 3 Months | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| USMLE Step 1 - 12 Months | $35.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great explanations for answers
- 👍 Convenient for on-the-go studying
- 👍 Good breadth of material covered
- 👍 Detailed feedback on questions
- 👍 Useful mnemonics provided

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Charged for unwanted renewals
- 👎 Unable to unlock purchased app
- 👎 App crashes and freezes
- 👎 Questions can be too easy/basic
- 👎 False sense of mastery from questions

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and crashes during account creation
- App crashes while trying to create an account

**Requested features**

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


### Valve PPM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valve-ppm/id1604258260)

This tool assists medical professionals in assessing implanted prosthetic cardiac valves. It offers guidance for checking existing valve function and selecting the optimal valve before implantation based on patient and prosthesis parameters.

**Highlights:** Assess implanted valve function, Select optimal valve before implantation, Analyze patient and prosthesis parameters, Identify potential patient-prosthesis mismatch, Determine intrinsic prosthesis dysfunction

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is USMLE Step 1 Mastery free?

USMLE Step 1 Mastery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Valve PPM free?

Valve PPM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or Valve PPM?

Valve PPM is rated higher. USMLE Step 1 Mastery averages 4.6 out of 5 from 216 ratings, while Valve PPM averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do USMLE Step 1 Mastery or Valve PPM have ads?

Neither USMLE Step 1 Mastery nor Valve PPM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or Valve PPM?

USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, and Valve PPM every 2 months. Most recently, USMLE Step 1 Mastery was updated on November 1, 2026 and Valve PPM on October 30, 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.*