Boards and Beyond vs SimConverse
Sixteen final-year optometry students at Aston University talked to SimConverse, ChatGPT and a human actor in random order. Ratings showed no significant difference between the actor and SimConverse, and ChatGPT scored significantly worse (p<0.001). The sample is small and the outcomes were self-rated, but the authors are independent of the vendor. A simulation lead weighing communication practice in one profession, optometry, has that result to read.
Boards and Beyond is a video course taught by Dr. Jason Ryan. The vendor lists 490+ Step 1 Preclinical videos tied to 2,300+ USMLE-style questions, and the Step 2-3 course adds 260+ videos and 1,300+ questions. McGraw Hill lists $249 for a year and $399 for two years, the same for both courses. A medical student preparing for Step 1 is who it serves.
The Aston result concerns patient conversations in optometry. Boards and Beyond's pages describe video lessons, question sets and, for Step 2-3, performance tracking across 16 categories.
Medical education · Reviewed November 2, 2026
Boards and Beyond
by McGraw Hill Education
Step 1 video course taught by Dr. Jason Ryan.
SimConverse
by Dymaxion Technologies Pty Ltd
AI simulated patients for communication training in health professions education.
When to pick each one
Boards and Beyond
- Step 1 video course by Dr. Jason Ryan
- $249 for one year, $399 for two
SimConverse
- Optometry study: no significant gap versus a human actor
- Independent academic authors on that study
Score
Each row shows points earned of points available under the published rubric.
Boards and Beyond
33of 100
SimConverse
32of 100
| Dimension | Boards and Beyond | SimConverse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-reviewed papers | 0 / 7 | 4.9 / 7 | -4.9 |
| RCT / meta-analysis / systematic review | 0 / 1.8 | 0 / 1.8 | 0 |
| Funding & adoption signal | 8.4 / 12 | 3 / 12 | +5.4 |
| Pricing transparency | 3.3 / 6.5 | 3.3 / 6.5 | 0 |
| Years in market | 0 / 7.8 | 0 / 7.8 | 0 |
Scroll horizontally to see every column.
Pricing
Boards and Beyond
| Tier | Billing period | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1 month, one-time | $89 | same price for Step 1 Preclinical and Steps 2-3 Clinical |
Show all 9 price pointsHide extra price points
| 3 months | 3 months, one-time | $149 | same price for both products |
| 6 months | 6 months, one-time | $199 | same price for both products |
| 1 year | 1 year, one-time | $249 | same price for both products |
| 18 months | 18 months, one-time | $349 | same price for both products |
| 2 years | 2 years, one-time | $399 | longest term |
| 1 week | 1 week, one-time | $24 | lowest price quoted on boardsbeyond.com/Pricing ('from $24 for one week') |
| Clinical Confidence2 price points | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Confidence | 6 months, one-time | $149 | boardsbeyond.com quotes $149 for 6 months. Product not confirmed |
| Clinical Confidence | 1 year, one-time | $199 | boardsbeyond.com quotes $199 for a full year. Product not confirmed |
Verified October 14, 2026 from mheducation.com (opens in new tab).
SimConverse
| Tier | Monthly | Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | n/a | n/a | No public price. |
Evidence
Boards and Beyond
No FDA decision, peer-reviewed study or community post in our record.
SimConverse
Peer-reviewed
4 PubMed records name SimConverse.
- Artificial intelligence-driven patient history and symptoms combined with slit-lamp eye simulation for enhancing the clinical training of students. (opens in new tab)
- The Effect of Generative Artificial Intelligence Simulation on First-Year Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Therapeutic Communication Skill. (opens in new tab)
- Advances in evaluating and delivering nontechnical skills training: The use of simulation, robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. (opens in new tab)
Compliance and integrations
Documented from each vendor’s own pages.
| Spec | Boards and Beyond | SimConverse |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ||
| HIPAA | ||
| SOC 2 Type II | ||
| EHR integrations | Not specified | Not specified |
| Founded | n/a | n/a |
| HQ | n/a | AU |
Scroll horizontally to see both columns.
Common questions
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USMLE prep (UWorld, AMBOSS, Anki), specialty learning (SketchyMedical, Pathoma, Boards & Beyond), CME (Healio AI, AMA Ed Hub). The most affiliate-rich category in healthcare AI.