Boards & Beyond vs Pathoma for USMLE Step 1
These are often used together rather than chosen between. Boards & Beyond covers every Step 1 subject with 490+ videos and 2,300+ questions mapped to First Aid (reported from about $24 a week to $399); Pathoma covers pathology only, with 35+ hours of video and a 218-page book from $84.95. Pathoma goes deeper on pathology; Boards & Beyond covers everything else.
Pathoma from its own pages; Boards & Beyond contents from McGraw Hill, with prices as reported. Checked October 11-12, 2026. Not hands-on tested.
| Boards & Beyond | Pathoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All Step 1 subjects (plus separate Step 2-3) | Pathology only |
| Videos | 490+ (Step 1) | 35+ hours |
| Questions | 2,300+ (Step 1) | None |
| Book | Mapped to First Aid | 218-page Fundamentals of Pathology (included) |
| Price | About $24/week to $399 (reported) | $84.95 (3 months) to $119.95 (21 months) |
| Free trial | See McGraw Hill | 1 month |
Choose Boards & Beyond if
- You want one video course covering every Step 1 subject, with linked questions.
Choose Pathoma if
- You want the most focused pathology resource, cheaply; many students add it to Boards & Beyond.
Official source & community discussion
USMLE (official) →
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