UWorld vs HOCK CMA: which should you buy?
Last checked October 20, 2026 · Sources: UWorld’s CMA review pages (Premier price as reported); HOCK’s CMA membership page ($119.99 a month regular price); IMA for the case-based format. Break-even figures are our arithmetic. Ratings are our editorial assessment from published details, not hands-on tests.
UWorld vs HOCK CMA pits a one-off course against a monthly membership. UWorld ($1,299 Premier, reported, or $1,499 Elite-Unlimited) is built around 6,200+ visually explained questions and a full mobile app. HOCK ($119.99 a month at its regular price) offers a guided, topic-by-topic structure with Brian Hock’s videos and six full mock exams. Both cover the new case-based questions. By our arithmetic, HOCK is cheaper than UWorld Elite-Unlimited if you finish within 12 months.
You want a fixed price with unlimited access, the biggest question bank, and you learn best from worked examples.
UWorld CMA reviewYou want to be told exactly what to study next, want plenty of mock exams, and plan to finish quickly.
HOCK CMA reviewUWorld vs HOCK CMA side by side
| UWorld | HOCK | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| How you pay | Once: $1,299 to $1,499 list | Monthly: $119.99 (regular price) |
| Access | Unlimited, on Elite-Unlimited | While you subscribe |
| Practice questions | 6,200+ | Included; no count published |
| Mock exams | 2 full-length mocks | 6 full mocks (3 per part) |
| Teaching style | Visual explanations; 11th Hour Final Review on Elite | Videos by Brian Hock, guided PassMap |
| AI study help | Check with UWorld | BrAIn AI support built into PassMap |
| Try first | Check with UWorld | Free membership with the first units of each part |
UWorld Elite from its own page, Premier as reported; HOCK from its own membership page. October 2026.
When HOCK is cheaper: the break-even
| Months on HOCK | HOCK total | vs UWorld Premier ($1,299) | vs UWorld Elite-Unlimited ($1,499) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | $719.94 | HOCK cheaper | HOCK cheaper |
| 10 | $1,199.90 | HOCK cheaper | HOCK cheaper |
| 11 | $1,319.89 | UWorld cheaper | HOCK cheaper |
| 12 | $1,439.88 | UWorld cheaper | HOCK cheaper |
| 13 | $1,559.87 | UWorld cheaper | UWorld cheaper |
Our arithmetic at HOCK’s $119.99 regular monthly price; UWorld Premier price as reported. Discounts on either side change the result.
The bottom line
UWorld Elite-Unlimited caps your cost at a single price however long you take, and gives you the bigger question bank. HOCK can come in cheaper for a fast candidate, and its guided structure and extra mock exams suit people who stall without a clear next step. IMA says the typical candidate takes 12 to 18 months, so if you are unsure of your pace, the fixed price is the lower-risk choice.
Common questions about UWorld vs HOCK
Which is cheaper, UWorld or HOCK?
HOCK, if you study fast: at $119.99 a month it costs less than UWorld Elite-Unlimited within 12 months and less than UWorld Premier (reported at $1,299) within 10, by our arithmetic.
Which has more practice?
UWorld, with 6,200+ questions. HOCK has more full mock exams: six against UWorld’s two.
Which is better if my timeline is long?
UWorld Elite-Unlimited gives unlimited access for one price; HOCK lasts only while you keep paying.
Is this comparison sponsored?
No. We earn no commission from either provider.