8 Best NCLEX Apps for NGN Prep

The NGN exam challenges nursing students with advanced question formats like case-based scenarios and interactive exercises. To succeed, you need the right tools. Here’s a quick look at the 8 best NCLEX prep apps designed to sharpen your critical thinking and clinical judgment skills:

  • Nurse Cram: Unlimited NGN-style questions, readiness exams, performance tracking.
  • UWorld: 2,300+ NGN questions, detailed rationales, offline access.
  • NCLEX Mastery: 2,100+ questions, flashcards, personalized study plans.
  • Picmonic: Visual mnemonics, video lessons, spaced repetition.
  • ATI RN Mentor: 2,300 questions, peer discussions, case studies.
  • NURSING.com: 6,000+ questions, adaptive testing, clinical simulations.
  • RN Crush: Gamified learning, leaderboards, interactive quizzes.
  • Nurse Think: Adaptive question bank, clinical scenarios, SIMCLEX algorithm.

Quick Comparison Table

App Name Questions Key Features NGN Support Price
Nurse Cram Unlimited Readiness exams, tracking Full NGN $35/month
UWorld 2,300+ Offline access, analytics Full NGN $139/30 days
NCLEX Mastery 2,100+ (paid) Flashcards, study plans Partial NGN $29.99
Picmonic 10,000+ Visual mnemonics, quizzes Updated NGN Free & Premium
ATI RN Mentor 2,300 (paid) Peer support, case studies NGN-aligned $49.99/month
NURSING.com 6,000+ Video lessons, adaptive testing Full NGN $39/month
RN Crush 2,000+ Gamified learning, leaderboards Updated NGN $29.99/month
Nurse Think Adaptive bank Visual tools, SIMCLEX algorithm Full NGN $49.99/month

Choose based on your study style and budget. Whether it’s UWorld for in-depth practice or Picmonic for visual learners, these apps can help you ace the NGN.

Best NCLEX Review Courses & Study Materials (2024)

1. Nurse Cram NCLEX Exam Review

Nurse Cram

Nurse Cram NCLEX Exam Review is a mobile app tailored for the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) exam. It focuses on NGN question types, offering detailed explanations to strengthen clinical reasoning.

Features and Learning Tools

The app uses case studies and guided practice to create scenario-based learning. You can choose between self-paced or tutored options. Each question comes with clear explanations to help you understand the answers and improve clinical judgment. Real-world nursing situations are included to sharpen critical thinking skills.

Performance Tracking and Study Guidance

The app provides advanced analytics to highlight knowledge gaps and create personalized study plans. Its learning system adjusts to your progress, helping you concentrate on weaker areas while boosting confidence in topics you’ve already mastered.

In-Depth Content and Flexibility

With tutorials, interactive exercises, and case studies, the app covers key nursing topics like adult health, pharmacology, and maternal care. You can study at your own pace and access readiness exams that mimic the NGN format, ensuring you’re well-prepared.

2. UWorld NCLEX App

UWorld

UWorld offers over 2,300 practice questions, including both traditional and NGN formats, making it a go-to tool for tackling the updated NCLEX exam. It’s best suited for students who already have a strong grasp of NCLEX content and want to fine-tune their skills, especially with NGN-specific question types.

NGN-style Question Formats

UWorld covers a wide range of NGN question types, such as SATA, hotspot questions, fill-in-the-blank, highlighted text, ordered response, matrix questions, and bow-tie questions. This variety ensures you’re ready for any format the exam throws at you.

Building Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

The app goes beyond basic practice by offering detailed rationales for each question and customizable practice sessions. You can focus on specific question types or revisit marked questions, helping you sharpen the critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills that are key in nursing.

Tracking Progress and Custom Study Plans

UWorld’s performance tracking feature identifies areas where you need improvement, monitors your progress, and helps you create personalized study plans. Plus, the option to access practice questions offline makes it a handy resource for students without consistent internet access.

Key Features and Resources

While UWorld’s strength lies in its extensive question bank and detailed explanations, it doesn’t offer much in the way of multimedia content. However, its focus on high-quality, in-depth practice questions makes it a solid choice for advanced learners looking for targeted preparation [1].

For those who prefer more visual learning tools, the next app provides creative memory aids to complement traditional question banks.

3. NCLEX Mastery

NCLEX Mastery

NCLEX Mastery is built to help students prepare for NGN-style questions and clinical scenarios. The app includes a question bank with over 3,000 NCLEX-RN practice questions [1].

NGN-style Question Formats

This app offers a variety of NGN-style questions, such as SATA, hotspot, cloze, highlighted text, ordered response, matrix, and bow-tie formats [1]. Detailed explanations and scenario-based exercises accompany these questions, giving students a better understanding of what to expect on the exam.

Focus on Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

The app places a strong emphasis on applying knowledge to real-world clinical situations. Each question is paired with in-depth rationales, explaining not only the correct answer but also why other options are incorrect. This approach helps sharpen critical thinking and clinical judgment skills.

Progress Tracking and Personalized Study Plans

NCLEX Mastery includes tools to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement. Its tracking system allows students to:

  • Target weak spots
  • Measure growth over time
  • Adjust their study approach based on performance
  • Set achievable goals for better results

Extra Features for Convenience

The app offers flashcards and offline access, making it easy to study anywhere [1][2]. While the free version provides 64 questions, upgrading for $29.99 unlocks the complete question bank.

The app is designed with a focus on usability and flexibility, catering to students with busy schedules. Although it may not have as many questions as some competitors, its quality content and practical tools make it a solid choice for NGN preparation.

For those looking for a more visual and engaging way to study, the next app provides creative memory aids and multimedia features.

4. Picmonic

Picmonic

Picmonic blends NGN-style questions with visual tools to help nursing students grasp and remember complex topics. The app uses mnemonic video lessons and interactive features to make studying more engaging and effective.

Visual Learning Approach

Picmonic offers 3-minute video lessons paired with picture mnemonics to break down complicated nursing concepts. These tools use spaced repetition to boost memory and critical thinking, turning tough medical topics into easier, more interactive learning experiences.

Performance Tracking and Study Plans

The app includes a tracking system that identifies knowledge gaps, estimates exam readiness, and builds personalized study plans based on your progress. This system helps students focus on areas needing the most attention, making preparation for the NGN NCLEX exam more targeted and efficient.

Multimedia Resources

Picmonic’s library features short video lessons, picture mnemonics, and tools for spaced repetition to reinforce learning. The free version provides access to one video lesson and 20 quiz questions daily. Upgrading unlocks the full range of resources for a more in-depth study experience.

For students who enjoy using visual and interactive tools, Picmonic offers a dynamic way to study. If you’re looking for a more traditional, question-based study method, the next app includes structured practice and mentoring tools to guide your learning.

5. ATI RN Mentor

ATI RN Mentor provides access to over 2,300 practice questions created by experienced nurse educators. These questions cover both traditional NCLEX formats and the newer NGN-style questions, such as SATA, hotspot, and bow-tie types, offering a well-rounded preparation tool.

Key Features

  • Clinical Reasoning Skills: Includes detailed explanations and case studies to build critical thinking through real-world scenarios, helping students grasp complex clinical topics.
  • Personalized Study Plans: Tracks your progress and creates customized study plans based on your performance, focusing on areas that need more attention.
  • Peer Learning Opportunities: Features a discussion forum where users can share knowledge and solve problems together, adding a collaborative element to studying.

Resources and Accessibility

The free version includes over 800 practice questions, while the premium version offers additional benefits like:

  • Full access to the question bank
  • Multimedia learning tools
  • A performance tracking dashboard
  • Readiness assessments
  • Community discussion features

If you’re looking for structured NGN preparation with peer support, ATI RN Mentor is worth exploring. Up next, NURSING.com introduces a distinctive approach to NCLEX prep with its diverse tools and resources.

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6. NURSING.com NCLEX App

NURSING.com

The NURSING.com NCLEX App is designed to help nursing students excel in NGN preparation with a large database of more than 6,500 NCLEX-style questions. These questions focus on building critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, which are essential for tackling the Next Generation NCLEX exam.

NGN-style Question Focus

This app includes scenario-based questions with detailed explanations, helping users sharpen their clinical reasoning. The questions are tailored to reflect NGN standards, using real-life nursing scenarios to develop decision-making skills that are practical and exam-relevant.

Building Critical Thinking Skills

Through complex patient scenarios, the app bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. These exercises train students to think critically and prepare them for the challenges they’ll face during the NGN exam and in their professional nursing roles.

Performance Insights and Study Plans

The app’s SIMCLEX adaptive testing algorithm creates personalized study plans based on how students perform. With detailed analytics, users can pinpoint weaknesses, monitor their progress, and manage their study time effectively for a focused preparation strategy.

Extra Features and Resources

NURSING.com offers more than just a question bank. Additional tools include:

  • On-demand video lessons from various instructors
  • Full-length readiness exams
  • Multimedia learning materials
  • In-depth content reviews

These resources cater to different learning preferences, providing a flexible and effective way to study. If you’re looking for a data-driven and personalized NCLEX prep tool, this app is a strong option. Next, we’ll look at the RN Crush NCLEX Prep App, which takes a gamified approach to studying.

7. RN Crush NCLEX Prep App

RN Crush

RN Crush combines studying with gamified learning, offering a large collection of NGN-style questions based on clinical scenarios. This approach is perfect for students who find it hard to stay engaged with more traditional study tools. With four game modes, the app makes studying interactive and fun, while scenario-based exercises and detailed explanations help sharpen critical thinking.

Practice for Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

The app features interactive simulations where users tackle complex patient scenarios. These exercises require analyzing situations and applying nursing knowledge, bridging the gap between theory and real-world practice. This not only prepares students for the NGN exam but also for clinical decision-making in their careers.

Performance Tracking and Study Plans

RN Crush tracks your progress and adjusts question difficulty to match your learning needs. It even includes competitive leaderboards to keep you motivated. By identifying areas where you need improvement, the app creates focused study plans to help you strengthen weak spots.

Extra Tools and Resources

The app offers video lessons, interactive simulations, performance analytics, and leaderboards to keep learning engaging. With over 6,500 NCLEX-style questions, it provides plenty of practice while maintaining interest through its game-like design.

For those who prefer a more structured and straightforward study method, the Nurse Think NCLEX Prep App is another strong option.

8. Nurse Think NCLEX Prep App

Nurse Think

The Nurse Think NCLEX Prep App uses an advanced testing algorithm that closely mimics the NCLEX exam, making it a solid choice for students preparing for the NGN exam. Its focused approach helps learners tackle the specific challenges of the test.

NGN-style Question Coverage

This app includes all NGN question types, such as SATA, hotspot, cloze, and bow-tie formats. Each question is crafted to match the structure of the latest NGN exam, ensuring users get familiar with the test’s format.

Building Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

Nurse Think focuses on improving clinical judgment through scenario-based exercises that simulate real-life bedside situations. Its interactive, multi-sensory design combines visuals with hands-on scenarios, helping users apply theoretical knowledge to practical decision-making.

Performance Insights and Study Plans

The app’s SIMCLEX algorithm adapts to user performance, pinpointing areas of weakness and creating tailored study plans. It also provides detailed feedback on progress across various question types and topics, keeping learners on track.

Tools and Resources

Nurse Think goes beyond typical practice questions by offering:

  • Interactive visuals to boost memory retention
  • Detailed rationales for both correct and incorrect answers
  • Adaptive simulations that replicate the NCLEX testing environment

What sets this app apart is its focus on developing practical nursing judgment, moving beyond simple memorization. With its well-rounded features, Nurse Think is a strong option for those preparing for the NGN exam. Below is a table comparing key features of all the apps discussed.

Comparison Table

Here’s a breakdown of the features of some popular apps to help you decide which one fits your NGN preparation needs:

App Name Practice Questions Key Features NGN Support Pricing
Nurse Cram Unlimited NGN-style questions • Readiness exams
• Clinical judgment exercises
• Performance tracking
Full NGN question types and clinical judgment scenarios $35/month
UWorld 2,300+ questions • Custom test creation
• Advanced analytics
• Offline access
Complete NGN format coverage $139/30 days
NCLEX Mastery 2,100+ (paid)
64 (free)
• Flashcards
• Study planning
• Question rationales
Partial NGN coverage $29.99
Picmonic 10,000+ questions • Picture mnemonics
• Video lessons
• Daily quizzes
Updated NGN formats Free & Premium options
ATI RN Mentor 2,300 (paid)
800+ (free)
• Peer discussions
• Case studies
• Content reviews
NGN-aligned questions $49.99/month
NURSING.com 6,000+ questions • Video content
• Adaptive testing
• Clinical simulations
Full NGN integration $39/month
RN Crush 2,000+ questions • Gamified learning
• Leaderboards
• Interactive quizzes
Updated NGN content $29.99/month
Nurse Think Adaptive question bank • SIMCLEX algorithm
• Clinical scenarios
• Visual learning tools
Complete NGN coverage $49.99/month

Each app offers something different depending on your learning style and budget. For detailed rationales and extensive question banks, UWorld and Picmonic are strong options [1]. ATI RN Mentor adds peer discussions and a solid free tier [1], while NCLEX Mastery is a budget-friendly option at $29.99 [2]. If you prefer adaptive learning tools, Nurse Think and NURSING.com stand out. For a more engaging experience, Picmonic uses mnemonics and spaced repetition.

Pick the app that aligns with your study habits and budget. With these comparisons in mind, you’re better equipped to choose the right NCLEX prep app for your goals.

Conclusion

Choosing the right NCLEX prep app is a key part of your journey to becoming a registered nurse. With the shift to the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), it’s crucial to have a study tool that matches the updated exam format.

Different apps bring unique strengths to the table. UWorld offers in-depth question banks, while Picmonic provides engaging visual aids. Check the comparison table above to decide which app fits your needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your choice:

  • Detailed Question Banks with Clinical Judgment Practice: Focus on apps that include rationales and scenario-based exercises.
  • Performance Tracking That Evolves with You: Opt for tools that highlight your weak areas and stay updated with NGN requirements.
  • Cost Considerations: Balance monthly fees with long-term costs to find what works for your budget.

Passing the NCLEX-RN isn’t just about memorization – it requires strong clinical judgment skills. The right app can help you build these skills through targeted practice tailored to your learning style.

FAQs

What is the best NCLEX review app?

The best app depends on what you need for your NCLEX prep. UWorld stands out with over 2,300 NGN questions and in-depth explanations, while NCLEX Mastery offers a mix of free content and budget-friendly premium plans [1]. When deciding, think about:

  • NGN-specific question formats
  • Clear, detailed answer explanations
  • Apps that stay updated with the latest NCLEX standards
  • Mobile-friendly options for studying on the go

Does UWorld have NGN questions?

Yes, UWorld includes NGN questions. It features customizable practice exams, detailed explanations, and performance tracking to monitor your progress [1]. Their adaptive testing system mimics the NCLEX format, adjusting question difficulty as you go – just like the real test. For more details on UWorld’s NGN features, check out Section 2 of this article.

Whether you want a large question bank like UWorld or prefer interactive tools such as Picmonic, use the comparison table above to find the app that fits your study habits and budget. Picking the right app can make a big difference in your NCLEX prep.

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Mia Brooks2

Mia is dedicated to helping nursing students and new graduates confidently prepare for the Next Generation NCLEX exam. With a focus on providing clear, actionable advice and support, Mia offers practical study tips, effective strategies, and encouragement to guide you through the complexities of nursing exams. Whether you need help mastering question formats, managing stress, or creating a personalized study plan, Mia is here to ensure you feel prepared and empowered every step of the way.