Archer vs UWorld for NCLEX

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Archer vs. UWorld is the most common NCLEX prep debate. Both are excellent resources, but they’re not identical. Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Archer Sure Pass	UWorld
Total Questions	3,100+	2,300+
NGN Items	1,100+	Yes (unspecified)
Case Studies	238+	Yes
Price (30-day)	$139	$139
Price (60-day)	$199	$229
Price (90-day)	$209	$329
Price (180-day)	$239	$439
Live Review	Included	Not included
Readiness Assessments	Unlimited	2
Mobile App	Yes	Yes
Pass Rate Claim	98.98%*	Not published
Students Served	873,000+	Millions

*For students scoring “high” on 4 consecutive assessments

Bottom line: Archer offers more features at a lower price. UWorld has stronger brand recognition.

Question Quality

This is what matters most. Both resources have high-quality questions, but there are differences.

UWorld Questions

UWorld is the industry standard. Their questions are:

• Consistently challenging (often harder than NCLEX)
• Paired with exceptional rationales
• Updated regularly for current guidelines
• Widely recognized by nursing programs

The rationales are UWorld’s strongest feature. They don’t just tell you the right answer—they teach you the underlying concept. Many students say they learned more from UWorld rationales than from nursing school lectures.

Archer Questions

Archer’s questions are comparable in quality:

• Similar difficulty level to UWorld
• Comprehensive rationales with images and videos
• Extensive NGN coverage (1,100+ items specifically)
• Quarterly updates based on NCSBN communications

The main difference: Archer has more questions (3,100+ vs 2,300+). For students who want maximum practice volume, this matters.

My take: Both question banks adequately prepare you for NCLEX. UWorld’s rationales are slightly more polished, but Archer’s quantity and NGN coverage close the gap.

Pricing Breakdown

Let’s be direct about cost.

If You Have 30 Days

Resource	Price
Archer	$139
UWorld	$139

Same price, but Archer includes live review sessions worth $59+ elsewhere.

If You Have 60 Days

Resource	Price	Savings with Archer
Archer	$199	—
UWorld	$229	$30

If You Have 90 Days

Resource	Price	Savings with Archer
Archer	$209	—
UWorld	$329	$120

If You Have 180 Days

Resource	Price	Savings with Archer
Archer	$239	—
UWorld	$439	$200

The longer your study period, the more Archer saves you.

Live Review: Archer’s Advantage

Here’s the biggest difference: Archer includes live review sessions at all price tiers. UWorld doesn’t offer this.

What you get with Archer’s live component:

• 3-day live review intensive (24 hours of high-yield content)
• Daily live topic reviews (Mon/Wed/Fri case studies, Tue/Thu system lectures)
• Real-time Q&A with instructors

This alone is worth $59+ if purchased separately from other providers. It’s included in Archer’s base price.

Why it matters: Some students learn better from live instruction than self-paced questions. If that’s you, Archer has a clear advantage.

Readiness Assessments

Archer: Unlimited Assessments

Take as many readiness assessments as you need. This lets you:

• Track progress over time
• Hit the “4 consecutive high” benchmark
• Know exactly when you’re ready

Students who score “high” on 4 consecutive Archer assessments have a 98.98% pass rate.

UWorld: 2 Assessments

UWorld includes 2 self-assessments. They’re excellent predictors, but:

• You can’t retake them for meaningful results
• Limited data points for tracking progress
• No room for “practice” assessments

My take: Unlimited assessments is a significant advantage. You shouldn’t have to guess when you’re ready.

NGN Coverage

The Next Generation NCLEX format is now part of every exam. Both resources cover NGN, but differently.

Archer NGN Content

• 1,100+ NGN-specific items
• 175+ standalone case studies
• 63+ unfolding case studies
• All NGN question types covered

UWorld NGN Content

• NGN items included (exact number not published)
• Case studies included
• All question types covered

Archer is more transparent about their NGN volume. If NGN is a concern, Archer’s 1,100+ items provide extensive practice.

Brand Recognition

Let’s be honest: UWorld is more recognized.

UWorld advantages:

• Recommended by most nursing programs
• Longer track record
• “Safe” choice everyone knows
• Some employers recognize it on resumes

Archer’s position:

• Growing rapidly (873,000+ students since 2019)
• Increasingly recommended in nursing forums
• Less name recognition with older faculty

Does this matter? For passing NCLEX, no. Both resources prepare you equally well. For peace of mind or school requirements, UWorld’s recognition might matter.

Who Should Choose Archer

Archer Review is the better choice if you:

• Want the best value — More questions, live review, lower price
• Learn well from live instruction — Live review is included
• Need unlimited readiness assessments — Know exactly when you’re ready
• Are retaking after UWorld — Different questions, fresh perspective
• Are concerned about NGN — 1,100+ NGN items is extensive
• Have a longer study timeline — Savings increase with duration

Who Should Choose UWorld

UWorld is the better choice if you:

• Value brand recognition — The “safe” choice everyone knows
• Your school requires it — Some programs mandate UWorld
• Prefer the most polished interface — UWorld’s UI is refined
• Already own UWorld — Use what you have
• Want the most recognized rationales — UWorld wrote the book on this

Can You Use Both?

Yes, and some students do. Common strategies:

Sequential approach:

1. Complete UWorld first (use the rationales to learn)
2. Use Archer for additional practice (fresh questions)
3. Take Archer’s readiness assessments to confirm readiness

Budget-conscious approach:

1. Use Archer as your primary resource
2. Access free UWorld trial for comparison
3. Stick with Archer if it’s working

Cost of both: $278-678 depending on duration. Only worth it if you have the budget and time.

The Verdict

Best overall value: Archer Review

You get more questions (3,100+ vs 2,300+), live review sessions, and unlimited readiness assessments for less money. Students who follow Archer’s readiness protocol have a 98.98% pass rate.

Best brand recognition: UWorld

If your school requires it, your anxiety demands the “safe” choice, or you specifically want UWorld’s rationale style, it’s still excellent.

My recommendation: Start with Archer. You get more for less, and you can always add UWorld later if needed. Most students won’t need both.

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Related resources:

• NCLEX Study Strategies — How to structure your prep
• 30-Day NCLEX Study Plan — Complete month-long preparation schedule
• 2-Week NCLEX Study Plan — Intensive last-minute prep