Guide · updated 11 October 2026
USMLE question banks compared
In short: UWorld has the largest advertised banks and sells each exam separately, from $349 for 30 days. AMBOSS pairs its Qbank with a medical library. USMLE-Rx Qmax covers both exams for $299 a year. Argonaut costs $48 once for both exams with no expiry: a smaller bank, with adaptive ARGO practice. Compare the total cost for the time you'll actually study.
By the Argonaut editorial team. How we write and review
Disclosure
Who wrote this
Argonaut wrote this page, and we sell one of the banks on it. To keep it fair, every fact about another bank is taken from that company's own website on 11 October 2026, with a link, and we include the places where other banks are ahead of us. Prices change: check each site before you buy.
Side by side
Five USMLE question banks
| Bank | Covers | Price (as listed) | Access | Advertised questions | Try it free | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWorldStep 1 QBank (Step 2 CK sold separately) | One exam per purchase | $349 for 30 days to $749 for 730 days; $579 for 360 days | 30 to 730 days; can't be paused once activated | 3,600+ Step 1; 4,250+ Step 2 CK and shelf | No trial account; a demo with a few sample questions | Plans of 90 days or longer include one to three self-assessments. QBank Plus ($448 to $848) adds medical videos. |
| AMBOSSQbank with membership | Qbank access includes Step 1, Step 2 CK, shelf and Step 3 questions | Step 1: $298 (1-month Qbank) or $378 (6-month Qbank), each with a 1-year membership that renews at $149 a year | 1 to 12 months of Qbank, depending on the package | 2,840+ Step 1; 3,460+ Step 2 | 5-day free trial | Includes the AMBOSS library, study plans and a score predictor. 30-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases. |
| KaplanStep 1 Qbank (Step 2 CK Qbank sold separately) | One exam per purchase | Step 1 from $199; Step 2 CK from $159 | Varies by plan; see Kaplan's site | 3,200+ Step 1; 3,100+ Step 2 CK | 7-day free trial | Two full-length practice tests with each Qbank, progress reports and an AI tutor. |
| USMLE-RxQmax (Step 1 and Step 2 CK) | Step 1 and Step 2 CK | $299 for 12 months | 1 to 36 months offered | 5,000+ across Step 1 and Step 2 CK | 5-day free trial of the Rx360+ bundle | Includes three Step 1 and Step 2 CK self-assessments. |
| ArgonautFull access | Step 1 and Step 2 CK | $48 once | No expiry (for as long as Argonaut runs) | 1,090 Step 1; 737 Step 2 CK | 113 free questions, no account | ARGO adaptive sessions and a high-yield Library included. No self-assessments. |
Sources, checked 11 October 2026: UWorld, AMBOSS, Kaplan, USMLE-Rx. Question counts are as advertised by each company and include different things (some count shelf or Step 3 questions). Trademarks belong to their owners; Argonaut is not affiliated with any of these companies.
Cost
What a year of preparation costs
The listed price of a year of access to both Step 1 and Step 2 CK:
- UWorld: $579 for a 360-day Step 1 QBank plus $579 for a 360-day Step 2 CK QBank: $1,158.
- USMLE-Rx Qmax: $299 for 12 months of Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
- Argonaut: $48, once, for both exams, with no expiry.
AMBOSS and Kaplan package their access differently, so a like-for-like annual figure isn't possible from their listings.
How to choose
Which bank fits you
You want the biggest bank
UWorld advertises the most Step 1 and Step 2 CK questions here, and many students already know its interface. Budget for each exam separately.
You want a library built in
AMBOSS ties its Qbank to a full medical reference library and study plans, sold as a membership.
You want both exams in one purchase
USMLE-Rx Qmax ($299 a year) and Argonaut ($48 once) both cover Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
You're on a budget, or want a second bank
Argonaut is the lowest-cost option here, with every question written to the NBME Item-Writing Guide and approved by a clinician, and ARGO aiming each session at your weak spots.
Whichever you choose, how you review matters more than which logo is on the bank. See how to review USMLE questions. For our ranking on accuracy, price, size, free resources, adaptability and freshness, see the best USMLE question bank in 2026; for budget banks too, see the cheapest USMLE question banks.
Questions people ask
01What is the cheapest full USMLE question bank?
Of the banks compared here, Argonaut costs least: $48 once for Step 1 and Step 2 CK, with no expiry. USMLE-Rx Qmax is $299 for 12 months of both exams. UWorld starts at $349 for 30 days of one exam.
02Which USMLE question bank is best?
It depends on what you need. UWorld has the largest advertised banks; AMBOSS ties its Qbank to a full medical library; USMLE-Rx and Argonaut cover both exams in one purchase; Argonaut is the lowest-cost option and adds adaptive ARGO practice. Many students use one main bank and add a second.
03Do I need more than one question bank?
Not always. Finishing one bank thoroughly, with careful review, matters more than starting several. A second bank helps when you've worked through your first and still want fresh questions.
04Does the size of a question bank matter?
Up to a point. You need enough questions to cover every system several times, and to keep practicing without memorizing answers. Past that, how you review matters more than raw count.
More guides
- The best USMLE question bank in 2026, ranked on six metricsFive Qbanks compared on accuracy, price, size, free resources, adaptivity and freshness.
- The cheapest USMLE question banks in 2026, for Step 1 and Step 2 CKStep 1 and Step 2 CK Qbanks from free to $749, with what the price leaves out.
- The 2026 USMLE exam format, explainedBlocks, timing and the new test software for Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
- A USMLE Step 1 study plan you can adjustPhases, daily question targets and self-assessment timing, with a calculator.
Try Argonaut before you decide.
Answer the free questions with full explanations. No account, no card.
$48 · once · Step 1 + Step 2 CK