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Question banks
MedPrep Institute vs UWorld: An Honest Comparison
How MedPrep Institute compares with UWorld on price, how questions work, spaced repetition, self-assessments and who each one is best for.
By MedPrep Institute Editorial Team · Published · 6 min read
We build MedPrep Institute, so treat this as a comparison from one side and judge it accordingly. We have tried to be specific about where UWorld is the better choice, because a student who picks the wrong tool is not helped by our post.
The short version
MedPrep costs $40 per month or $400 per year with a 7-day free trial, against $459 for UWorld's 90-day plan and $579 for its 360-day plan. UWorld is a large, fixed bank of pre-written questions with official self-assessments, and it is the standard most students measure other banks against. MedPrep is an adaptive bank that reacts to what you miss and schedules reviews for you. They solve different problems.
How they work differently
In a fixed-order bank, a missed question is something you may flag and revisit later if you remember to. In MedPrep, a miss tells the engine which concept you are weak on, and variations on that concept come back over the following days through spaced repetition. You spend less time planning reviews and more time answering questions.
MedPrep also counts question topics rather than fixed questions: each topic produces a full clinical vignette when you reach it. That is why its figures (7,500+ topics for Step 1) are not directly comparable to UWorld's 3,600+ pre-written Step 1 questions.
Side-by-side
MedPrep Institute vs UWorld
| Feature | MedPrep Institute | UWorld |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40 per month, $110 per 3 months, $400 per year | $349 (30 days) to $749 (730 days); 90 days is $459 |
| Question format | Adaptive; each topic generates a vignette | Fixed bank of pre-written questions |
| Review of misses | Built-in spaced repetition | Review is up to you; no scheduled concept review listed on the pages we checked |
| Exams covered | Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3 and ABIM | Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 |
| Self-assessments | Not included | Up to 3 on longer Step 1 and Step 2 CK plans |
| Step 3 CCS cases | Not included | 90+ CCS case simulations |
| Free trial | 7 days, cancel anytime | Listed on its Step 1 page; check its site for terms |
Why students pick MedPrep
- Adaptive practice. Miss a question and the engine flags the concept, then brings variations back over the following days.
- Spaced repetition built in. No decks to build and no review calendar to manage.
- NBME-style vignettes with clinical images, by topic or mixed across systems.
- Physician-reviewed explanations.
- Four exams, one subscription: Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3 and ABIM.
- The lowest price for any plan of up to six months: $40 per month, $110 per 3 months or $400 per year.
- Try it before you pay: free sample questions for Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 with no account, then a 7-day free trial.
What MedPrep does not have
MedPrep does not include CCS case simulations, official-style self-assessment exams or a score predictor. If you are taking Step 3, or you want a scored read on where you stand before Step 2 CK, plan to use UWorld's self-assessments or the official NBME assessments alongside.
Using them together
A common setup is UWorld as the primary bank for volume and assessments, and MedPrep for daily adaptive review of the concepts you keep missing. If you can only afford one, pick based on your problem: choose UWorld if you need volume and assessments, and MedPrep if you need scheduled review and lower cost.
How to test it yourself
Do the 7-day free trial with a block of questions from your weakest system, then check whether missed concepts come back when you expect them to. That is the feature you are paying for. For a wider view see the full question bank comparison and our guide to two passes through a question bank.
Frequently asked questions
Is MedPrep Institute as good as UWorld?
They are built for different jobs. UWorld is the standard for fixed, exam-style volume and self-assessments; MedPrep is an adaptive bank with built-in spaced repetition. MedPrep does not replace UWorld's self-assessments.
Is MedPrep cheaper than UWorld?
Yes. MedPrep is $40 per month or $400 per year, against $459 for UWorld's 90-day plan and $579 for its 360-day plan.
Does MedPrep have a free trial?
Yes, a 7-day free trial on every plan. Cancel before day 7 and you pay nothing.
Does MedPrep cover Step 3?
Yes, but it does not include CCS case simulations. UWorld lists 90+ CCS cases for Step 3.
Can I use MedPrep with UWorld?
Yes. Many students use a primary bank for volume and an adaptive bank for review of weak concepts.
Does MedPrep have self-assessments?
No. Use UWorld's self-assessments or the official NBME assessments for a scored readiness check.
Sources and disclaimers
Prices, question counts and plan details for other companies come from their official pages as we last checked them. They change often, so confirm current details on each company's site before you buy. MedPrep Institute is our own product. MedPrep Institute is not affiliated with or endorsed by UWorld, AMBOSS, TrueLearn, BoardVitals, Lecturio, USMLE-Rx, Kaplan, NBME, FSMB or USMLE. All trademarks belong to their owners.