# USMLE Step 1 Mastery vs USMLE Exam Prep

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | USMLE Step 1 Mastery | USMLE Exam Prep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (216 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usmle-step-1-mastery/id964613157/reviews)** | [4.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usmle-exam-prep-step-1/id1644924207/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 166 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Higher Learning Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/571804544) | [Golden Mind Services LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/417614614) |

## 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?


### USMLE Exam Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usmle-exam-prep-step-1/id1644924207)

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