Best USMLE Prep Courses of 2026 (Steps 1, 2, and/or 3)

The USMLE is a three-part series of difficult and high-stakes exams required for medical licensure in the United States. Given the importance of passing each exam, thorough preparation is key, but with countless companies claiming to offer the “best” or most “effective” way to prepare, where do you start? Not to worry…we’ve done the research for you and taken all the guesswork out of finding the right USMLE prep course for your learning needs, goals, and budget. Prices listed below were accurate at the time of writing, but we encourage interested users to visit companies’ websites, as they frequently offer discounts or sales.

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Kaplan

Kaplan is an established and highly respected figure in the test prep industry, so when it comes to medical education, it’s no surprise they’re known for their comprehensive course offerings, high-quality instructors, and simulated practice tests that effectively mimic real exams. They currently offer prep options for Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the USMLE:

  • Step 1
    • Qbank ($159): this option includes access to over 3,200 exam-like questions, detailed progress reports, 2 full-length practice tests, Kaplan’s AI tutor, and the Kaplan Medical mobile app.
    • On Demand (from $1,999): this option includes access to the Qbank, plus more than 1,100 videos with 230+ hours of lectures, 2,600 topic quiz questions, lecture notes in E-book format with color images and tables, 9 discipline assessments, 1 diagnostic exam, and 2 full-length simulated exams.
    • Live Online ($3999): this option includes access to the Qbank and everything in the On Demand course, plus 4 weeks of high-yield review focused on difficult topics, 2 weeks of question-based review, 3 hours of advising, and Kaplan’s pass guarantee.
  • Step 2
    • Qbank ($159): this option includes 3,100 board-style questions in an exam-like interface, over 1,000 images and videos, BioDigital 3D interactive anatomical models, 1 diagnostic exam, 2 full-length practice tests, in-depth answer explanations, step-by-step test-taking strategies to think like a physician, progress reports, and the Kaplan Medical mobile app.
    • On Demand (from $1499): this option includes access to the Qbank, in addition to 160+ hours of video lectures focusing on foundational clinical knowledge, 74 hours of lectures, 5 volumes of lecture notes in E-book format with color images and tables, 22 hours of video lessons covering core rotations, and 2 full-length simulated exams.
    • Live Online ($2999): this option includes access to the Qbank and everything in the On Demand course, in addition to over 96 hours of live and interactive online lectures taught by physicians, a tailored study schedule, 4 weeks of high-yield review focused on difficult topics, 1 week of question-based review, 3 hours of advising, and Kaplan’s pass guarantee.
  • Step 3
    • Qbank ($99): this option includes more than 900 exam-like questions, a diagnostic exam, detailed progress reports, and 3 modes (Timed, Tutor, and Timed-Tutor).
    • On Demand ($899): this option includes access to the Qbank, plus over 100 hours of on-demand video lectures, a diagnostic exam, 5 assessment exams, and 2 volumes of lecture notes in E-book format with color images and tables.
    • Live Online ($1199): this option includes access to the Qbank and everything in the On Demand course, plus over 100 hours of online lectures with award-winning faculty.

Kaplan offers study options for every step of the USMLE, as well as both on-demand and live instruction. Users raved about the helpful study schedule and lecture note E-books, which were described as well-organized and easy-to-understand. Students appreciated the comprehensive nature of the videos, and live instruction was noted to be highly engaging. Some users found the courses to be too involved or time-intensive, while others thought the material focused too much on building up foundational basics with less emphasis on high-yield content. Students also frequently noted the high cost of the on demand or live courses, although many shared that passing each step on their first try was worth the expense.

Best for: users seeking to strengthen their foundational knowledge through comprehensive instruction in a highly structured format with both on-demand and live learning options.

Not the best for: users on a budget or those with a solid foundation of knowledge seeking to focus on high-yield content.

AMBOSS

AMBOSS was founded in 2012 by a group of doctors frustrated with the lack of available resources within the medical education system. Over the years, the company has developed a devoted following and has come to be associated with high-quality, comprehensive, and customizable USMLE prep. The company currently offers prep options for Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the USMLE:

  1. Step 1: students can choose from 3 options:
    1. 6-month access: $378
    2. 12-month access: $448
    3. Student Life Access: $1199
      All options include access to the library, more than 2,700 Qbank questions, Anki integration, score predictor, customizable study plans, and clinical tools.
  2. Step 2: students can choose from 3 options:
    1. 1-month access: $298
    2. 6-month access: $378
    3. 12-month access: $448
      All options include access to the library, more than 3,300 Qbank questions, Anki integration, score predictor, customizable study plans, and clinical tools.
  3. Step 3: students can choose from 3 options:
    1. Yearly membership + 1-month unlimited Qbank access: $298
    2. Yearly membership + 6-month unlimited Qbank access: $387
    3. Yearly membership + 12-month unlimited QBank access: $448
      All options include access to the library, more than 2,000 questions in the Qbank, more than 1,500 physician-reviewed articles covering Step 3 content, AI mode, Anki integration, customizable study plans, and clinical tools.

AMBOSS offers a 5-day free trial for all purchases, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Users raved about the medical library, finding it well-organized and extremely comprehensive. Learners also praised the QBank for having realistic and challenging questions, as well as the customizable study plans, which were particularly appreciated for helping to identify weaknesses. Many users found the questions more challenging than those on the actual exam, and while some disliked this level of difficulty, others found that this helped them deliver a stronger performance on the actual USMLE. Some students felt that reading materials featured a paragraph-heavy format, which became cumbersome at times, and found the prep options less visually engaging than offerings by other companies. AMBOSS prep options are self-paced, although study schedules are available and can be customized, but several reviews mentioned a desire for live instruction options.

Best for: users seeking an excellent reference source and powerful tool for building comprehensive, foundational knowledge.

Not the best for: users seeking live instruction or who learn best through visually engaging material.

BoardVitals

BoardVitals is a company that is frequently mentioned in the context of USMLE prep, and it’s easy to see why, given their user-friendly interface, thorough explanations, and customizable questions that mimic those that appear on the real exam. BoardVitals offers prep options for Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the USMLE:

  1. Step 1: students can choose from four options:
    1. Free: no credit card is required, and this option includes access to select questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, and a mobile app.
    2. Cram (1 month for $169): this option includes access to more than 3,300 questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, a mobile app, and adaptive learning technology. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $20 each.
    3. Prepare (3 months for $259): this option includes everything in the Cram option, plus a 100% pass guarantee, the ability to ask questions of expert clinicians, and a buy now/start later option good for six months. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $15 each.
    4. Master (6 months for $449): this option includes everything in the Prepare option but for a longer period of time (6 months rather than 3 months).
  2. Step 2: students can choose from four options:
    1. Free: no credit card is required, and this option provides access to select questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, and a mobile app.
    2. Cram (1 month for $159): this option includes access to more than 1,400 questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, a mobile app, and adaptive learning technology. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $20 each.
    3. Prepare (3 months for $219): this option includes everything in the Cram option, plus a 100% pass guarantee, the ability to ask questions of expert clinicians, and a buy now/start later option good for six months. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $15 each.
    4. Master (6 months for $359): this option includes everything in the Prepare option but for a longer period of time (6 months rather than 3 months).
  3. Step 3: students can choose from four options:
    1. Free: no credit card is required, and this option includes access to select questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, and a mobile app.
    2. Cram (1 month for $109): this option includes access to more than 1,500 questions, detailed explanations and rationales, a targeted exam blueprint, a mobile app, and adaptive learning technology. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $20 each.
    3. Prepare (3 months for $169): this option includes everything in the Cram option, plus a 100% pass guarantee, the ability to ask questions of expert clinicians, and a buy/now start later option good for six months. Full-length practice exams may be purchased for an additional $15 each.
    4. Master (6 months for $249): this option includes everything in the Prepare option but for a longer period of time (6 months rather than 3 months).

Users appreciated the advanced analytical tracking tools, as well as their ability to generate customized practice tests by subject. Students praised the robust and detailed explanations, as well as the realistic user-interface mimicking the real exam. Aside from the ability to ask questions of expert clinicians, there was no live instruction, and while video clips were found to be informative, there were also no on-demand lectures. While learners generally found this to be a dependable question bank rather than a comprehensive study tool, some reviewers found the focus to be more on content memorization than fostering an understanding of underlying medical issues.

Best for: users who learn best through answering questions and who desire familiarity with the USMLE interface.

Not the best for: users seeking on-demand or live instruction to build a strong foundation and/or improve their fundamental knowledge.

PASS Program

PASS Program began offering medical education to students more than 25 years ago, and since their founding, they have grown into a trusted and respected source of medical education materials. They currently offer study options for Steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE:

  1. Step 1
    1. On Demand: students can select 1 month ($149), 3 months ($399), or 6 months ($799), and regardless of the length of time, all options include access to on-demand videos.
    2. Live Online ($2,499): this option includes live, online sessions Monday through Friday, optional evening drill sessions, access to recorded morning lectures and questions for up to 3 months, and a comprehensive course book. Programs are available in April, May, June, August, September, and October.
    3. Live In-Person ($3,499): this option includes live, in-person instruction for 7 hours a day (including a 15-minute break and lunch) Monday through Friday, optional evening drills, two practice exams, a test-taking strategies workshop, and access to recorded morning lectures and questions for up to 3 months. Programs are available in April, May, June, August, September, and October for those who live in or near Houston, Texas.
  2. Step 2
    1. On Demand: students can select 1 month ($149), 3 months ($399), or 6 months ($799), and regardless of the length of time, all options include access to on-demand videos.
    2. Live Online ($2,499): this option includes live, online sessions held Monday through Saturday, optional evening drills, access to recorded morning lectures and questions for up to 3 months, and a comprehensive course book. Programs are available in April, May, June, August, September, and October.
    3. Live In Person ($3,499): this option includes live, in-person instruction for 2 hours a day Monday through Friday and 4 hours on Saturday, optional evening drills, two practice exams, a test-taking strategies workshop, access to recorded morning lectures and questions for up to 3 months, and interactive case reviews, patient simulation labs, and clinical skills workshops. Programs are available in April, May, June, August, September, and October for those who live in or near Houston, Texas.

PASS Program is renowned for offering exceptional live instruction combined with immersive learning opportunities. Students appreciated the “bootcamp-style” preparation, as well as the detailed study books, and many noted how effective they found the five-week study programs. A few users noted that the production values of the on-demand videos felt outdated compared to videos produced by other companies, although the content was still noted to be informative and engaging. Some learners found the cost of program, whether live online or live in-person, to be prohibitively expensive and not the best learning option for someone on a budget. At the time this was written, PASS Program did not provide content delivery through a mobile app or offer a money-back guarantee to students who failed to pass their exam the first time.

Best for: users searching for rigorous and comprehensive prep who learn best through reading or who prefer attending in-person classes.

Not the best for: users on a budget who enjoy learning through cutting-edge videos that can be accessed through an app.

Med School Bootcamp

An instantly recognizable name in the USMLE preparation industry, Med School Bootcamp has established itself as a leader in medical education. The company currently offers study options for Step 1 of the USMLE:

  1. Monthly access (starting at $59/month): this option includes more than 2,500 questions, a preclinical video library, more than 8,000 bite-sized quizzes, anatomy bootcamp, boards-style breakdown videos, pass prediction, study schedule creator, Bootcamp AI assistant, the opportunity to create unlimited practice tests, and access to a mobile app.
  2. Yearly access ($249): this option includes everything in the Monthly access option for a period of 12 months.
  3. 2 years of access ($399): this option includes everything in the Yearly access option for a period of 24 months.e

Med School Bootcamp promises that users won’t be subjected to boring, scripted videos; instead, learning takes place through short-form videos, bite-sized quizzes, and board-style questions broken down and explained step-by-step. Users praise the easy-to-navigate, realistic interface, as well as the focus on high-yield questions and content. Learners mentioned the high quality of the provided illustrations and noted that the content-rich explanations for both correct and incorrect answers were extremely valuable to their preparation. While clinical vignettes were reported to be excellent and the Qbank was comprehensive, some users wished there were live instruction options, as well as physical study guides or workbooks.

Best for: users seeking a structured question bank learning option for primary content.

Not the best for: users who learn best through live options or prefer cutting-edge on-demand videos.

Achievable

Achievable might not have the instant name recognition of some of the other companies on this list, but with more than 30,000 reviews since being founded in 2016, this company is growing into a top-notch provider of high-quality medical education. The company currently offers a single study option for Step 1 of the USMLE:

  1. Full year of access: $179. This option includes more than 1,400 review questions and quizzes, an online textbook, an adaptive study planner, and access to an Achievable AI Tutor.

Rather than offering tiered memberships or pricing plans, Achievable provides all students with the same materials for the same length of time. Learners reported benefiting from the adaptive study plan, which updated based on their performance and improved study effectiveness while reducing the overall amount of time that was spent studying. Concepts were explained in a way that made them easy to grasp, and the formatting was noted to be intuitive and simple to navigate. Achievable offers a pass guarantee, meaning if a student does not pass Step 1 of the USMLE on their first try, they receive a full refund, which was a feature students appreciated. Reviews highlighted the helpful information contained in the online textbook, although some users found it a lot of material to get through and expressed a desire for more on-demand video content. Some users found the question bank too simple and limited for their learning needs.

Best for: users searching for text-based learning options and a question bank on a budget.

Not the best for: users seeking to strengthen their foundational knowledge before jumping into a review or those who learn best through videos.

Conclusion

When it comes to preparing for Steps 1, 2, and/or 3 of the daunting and exhausting USMLE, working with professional medical educators can help improve content knowledge, test-taking skills, and student confidence on the day of the exam. The aforementioned companies offer a variety of textbooks, question banks, on-demand videos, and live instruction options to ensure every student is as prepared as possible and ready to pass the USMLE on their first try, regardless of how much time they have to study or what their budget for study materials might be.