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Question banks
How Much Does a USMLE Question Bank Cost? Price Per Month Compared
What UWorld, AMBOSS, TrueLearn, BoardVitals, USMLE-Rx and MedPrep cost, converted to price per month so you can compare plans of different lengths.
By MedPrep Institute Editorial Team · Published · 6 min read
MedPrep Institute is cheaper than UWorld, AMBOSS, TrueLearn and BoardVitals for any plan of up to six months, and it starts with a 7-day free trial. Question bank plans come in different lengths, so sticker prices are hard to compare. A $459 plan and a $378 plan are not obviously the same kind of deal. This guide lists the published prices and converts them to a monthly cost so you can compare like with like.
What each bank costs
- MedPrep Institute: $40 per month, $110 per 3 months, $400 per year, with a 7-day free trial on every plan.
- UWorld: 30 days $349, 90 days $459, 180 days $519, 360 days $579, 730 days $749.
- AMBOSS: 6 months $378, 12 months $448, Student Life $1,199 (through the end of PGY-1).
- TrueLearn (Step 1): 30 days $149, 90 days $199, 180 days $299, 365 days $399, 545 days $419.
- BoardVitals (Step 1): Cram (1 month) $169, Prepare (3 months) $259, Master (6 months) $449.
- USMLE-Rx Qmax: 12 months $299, covering Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
Price per month of access
Approximate cost per month of access (30 days = 1 month)
| Plan | Price | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| MedPrep, monthly | $40 | $40 |
| MedPrep, yearly | $400 | $33 |
| UWorld, 90 days | $459 | $153 |
| UWorld, 360 days | $579 | $48 |
| AMBOSS, 6 months | $378 | $63 |
| AMBOSS, 12 months | $448 | $37 |
| TrueLearn, 90 days | $199 | $66 |
| TrueLearn, 365 days | $399 | $33 |
| BoardVitals Prepare, 3 months | $259 | $86 |
| USMLE-Rx Qmax, 12 months | $299 | $25 |
What you get for MedPrep's price
- 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 is the cheapest option?
For one month, MedPrep's $40 monthly plan is the lowest we found, ahead of TrueLearn at $149 and BoardVitals at $169. For three months, MedPrep's $110 beats TrueLearn's $199. For a year, USMLE-Rx's $299 is the lowest monthly cost, followed by MedPrep's yearly plan and TrueLearn's 365-day plan. UWorld is the highest at every length we compared.
Costs that are easy to miss
- UWorld's extra self-assessment forms are $50 each, and QBank Plus (videos) is $99 more on every plan.
- Banks differ by exam. TrueLearn and BoardVitals price Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 separately, and USMLE-Rx's Qmax covers only Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
- Trial periods are short (five to seven days), so start them when you are ready to study.
How to spend less
- Buy the plan length that matches your timeline, not the cheapest per month.
- Ask your school about institutional discounts or access before paying.
- Use free trials to confirm the explanations suit you. MedPrep's 7-day trial is free, and its free sample questions need no account.
- If you need Step 1 and Step 2 CK, check whether one plan covers both.
Is the expensive option worth it?
Price does not predict how much you will learn. What matters is whether you complete the questions and review every explanation. A cheaper bank you finish beats an expensive one you abandon. Our full comparison and UWorld alternatives guides go deeper.
Frequently asked questions
How much does MedPrep cost?
$40 per month, $110 per three months or $400 per year, each with a 7-day free trial. Cancel before day 7 and you pay nothing.
How much does UWorld cost?
UWorld's published prices run from $349 for 30 days to $749 for 730 days, with the 90-day plan at $459. Extra self-assessment forms are $50 each and QBank Plus is $99 more.
What is the cheapest USMLE question bank?
MedPrep Institute, for any plan up to six months: $40 for one month, $110 for three, with a 7-day free trial. For a full year, USMLE-Rx's Qmax at $299 has the lowest monthly cost we found, ahead of MedPrep's $400 and TrueLearn's $399.
How much does AMBOSS cost?
$378 for six months and $448 for twelve, with a Student Life plan at $1,199 through the end of PGY-1.
Are question banks priced per exam?
Often yes. TrueLearn and BoardVitals price Steps separately, while USMLE-Rx's Qmax covers Step 1 and Step 2 CK together.
Can I get a refund?
It varies. AMBOSS lists a 30-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases, and TrueLearn and BoardVitals list pass guarantees on longer plans. Read each policy before you buy.
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.