If you want the lowest-cost, largest exam-style bank, MedRevisions wins; if you want a learning platform that teaches reasoning and continues into postgraduate exams, iatroX does more. MedRevisions is a content-rich PLAB/UKMLA bank from around $10.99/month; iatroX is a higher-priced platform (£29/month or £99/year) adding a Socratic Tutor, an integrated clinical reference tool and native apps. Here's the honest head-to-head.
Key takeaways
- Price and volume: MedRevisions is cheaper and has the larger question bank.
- Teaching: iatroX's Socratic Tutor works through reasoning before revealing the answer; MedRevisions leads with notes plus explanations.
- Clinical reference: iatroX includes Ask iatroX for checking answers against UK guidance; MedRevisions does not have a separate reference tool.
- Apps: iatroX has native iOS and Android apps; MedRevisions is primarily web-based.
- Longevity: iatroX continues into MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PSA and diplomas; MedRevisions focuses on PLAB/UKMLA.
Side by side
| MedRevisions | iatroX | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | PLAB 1, UKMLA AKT | PLAB 1, UKMLA + MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PSA, diplomas, USMLE/MCCQE/AMC |
| Questions | ~5,400 exam-style SBAs + notes | Growing bank, mapped to MLA |
| Price | From ~$10.99/month | £29/month or £99/year |
| Adaptivity | Smart Revision (spaced repetition) + AI Study Assistant | AI-adaptive engine targeting weak areas |
| Tutoring | Notes + explanations + readiness score | Socratic Tutor (reasoning-led) |
| Clinical reference | Not included | Ask iatroX (NICE/CKS/SIGN/SmPC) |
| Apps | Primarily web | Native iOS + Android |
| Guideline basis | NICE, CKS, SIGN | NICE, CKS, SIGN, SmPC |
| Free option | 20 sample questions | Free sample questions |
Question approach: adaptive vs notes-led
Both platforms now offer adaptivity — this is not a "static vs adaptive" contest, despite older comparisons. MedRevisions resurfaces your incorrect questions with spaced repetition and uses an AI Study Assistant to plan around your weak areas, with a notes-first study style. iatroX leads with an adaptive engine and a Socratic Tutor that, rather than showing the answer immediately, prompts you through the clinical reasoning and names the misconception behind a wrong choice. Which suits you is genuinely a learning-style question: read-then-drill (MedRevisions) versus reason-it-out (iatroX).
Explanations and clinical reference
MedRevisions pairs detailed explanations with study notes built for retention. iatroX's distinguishing feature here is Ask iatroX — a clinical reference tool in the same platform that lets you check any answer against UK guidance (NICE, CKS, SIGN and the SmPC). For an IMG translating from a different national guideline, being able to verify "what is the UK pathway here?" without leaving the app is a practical advantage MedRevisions does not match.
Mobile experience
If you revise largely on a phone, iatroX's native iOS and Android apps are a real difference; MedRevisions is used primarily in the browser. Check current app availability for both before deciding, as products change.
Pricing and value
This is where honesty matters: MedRevisions is cheaper. From around $10.99/month it is one of the most affordable UK-exam banks, while iatroX is £29/month or £99/year. iatroX's case is not price — it is what the higher price buys: Socratic tutoring, an integrated clinical reference tool, native apps, and one subscription that carries you from PLAB/UKMLA through postgraduate exams instead of paying for a new platform at each stage. If you only need a bank for one exam at the lowest cost, MedRevisions is the value pick. If you want a learning platform you'll keep, iatroX's longer-term value is stronger.
Best for each
- Choose MedRevisions if you want the cheapest large exam-style bank with notes, for PLAB or UKMLA specifically.
- Choose iatroX if you want reasoning-led tutoring, a clinical reference tool in the same place, native apps, and a platform that continues into your postgraduate exams.
Many candidates reasonably run a primary bank plus a complement — for example a high-volume bank for breadth, with iatroX's adaptive engine and Ask iatroX to target gaps and verify management. The honest advice is the same either way: pick one primary tool and put your time into the questions, not into switching platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is MedRevisions or iatroX cheaper? MedRevisions is cheaper, from around $10.99/month, compared with iatroX at £29/month or £99/year. iatroX's value argument is the added tutoring, clinical reference, apps and multi-exam coverage rather than price.
Which has more questions, MedRevisions or iatroX? MedRevisions has the larger bank (~5,400 exam-style SBAs). iatroX's bank is smaller but mapped to the MLA content map and paired with adaptive practice and a clinical reference tool.
Does iatroX work for UK medical students as well as IMGs? Yes. iatroX covers both PLAB 1 and the UKMLA AKT on one subscription, and continues into MRCGP AKT, MSRA and other exams, so it suits both UK finalists and IMGs.
Can I try both before paying? Yes. MedRevisions offers 20 free sample questions, and iatroX offers free sample questions, so you can test the learning style of each before subscribing.
Which is better for PLAB 1? Neither is universally "better." MedRevisions is the value pick for an affordable, content-rich bank; iatroX is the pick if you want reasoning-led tutoring, integrated clinical reference and a platform you'll keep beyond PLAB.