Comparison

USMLE Step 1 Mastery vs USMLE Exam Prep

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 Exam Prep

Prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam with a comprehensive practice guide. It offers hundreds of questions, offline access, and personalized review options to track your progress and focus on challenging areas. Create custom quizzes for targeted study.

Highlights
  • Offline access
  • Hundreds of practice questions
  • Modern design
  • Answer review
  • Progress tracking
  • Targeted question practice
  • Custom quiz creation
Features
Read full description

A great practice guide to get prepared for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Here are some features: • No internet required • Hundreds of questions • A modern design • Review the answers • Keep the past tests to track progress • Only practice the questions you previously answered incorrectly • Practice more effectively by creating your own random quizzes This app is just a practice app and is not affiliated with USMLE® • Disclaimer: We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided on this app. However, the information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. This app is not intended to provide any medical advice.

Screenshots

USMLE Step 1 Mastery4 screens
USMLE Exam Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: USMLE Step 1 Mastery at 80% against USMLE Exam Prep's 0%. USMLE Step 1 Mastery also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). USMLE Exam Prep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. USMLE Exam Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

USMLE Step 1 Mastery holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: USMLE Step 1 Mastery has 216 ratings behind it against 12, 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 0% of USMLE Exam Prep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, USMLE Exam Prep every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
USMLE Step 1 Mastery versus USMLE Exam Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUSMLE Step 1 MasteryUSMLE Exam Prep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (216 ratings) — better4.3 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings216 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB9 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperHigher Learning TechnologiesGolden Mind Services LTD

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 Exam Prep

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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 Exam Prep

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
None

USMLE Exam Prep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is USMLE Step 1 Mastery free?
USMLE Step 1 Mastery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is USMLE Exam Prep free?
USMLE Exam Prep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE Exam Prep?
USMLE Step 1 Mastery is rated higher. USMLE Step 1 Mastery averages 4.6 out of 5 from 216 ratings, while USMLE Exam Prep averages 4.3 from 12 ratings.
Do USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE Exam Prep have ads?
USMLE Exam Prep shows ads; USMLE Step 1 Mastery does not.
Which is updated more often, USMLE Step 1 Mastery or USMLE Exam Prep?
USMLE Step 1 Mastery ships an update every 2 weeks, and USMLE Exam Prep every 4 months. Most recently, USMLE Step 1 Mastery was updated on November 11, 2026 and USMLE Exam Prep on November 3, 2026.

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