Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Hurst Review vs SimpleNursing
Hurst Review vs SimpleNursing: the differences
| Compare |  Hurst Review |  SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $159 | $46Lower |
| Prices by exam | nclex: $159 - $399 | NCLEX-RN: $46/mo 90-Day Pass ($139 one-time), $60/mo monthly; NCLEX-PN: $46/mo 90-Day Pass ($139 one-time), $60/mo monthly |
| Access period | 1 to 4 months | 3 to 24 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 2,000 | 4,500Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 6Higher |
| Score guarantee | Money back | Pass |
| Guarantee terms | Complete review in entirety and test within 3 months of graduation; notify within 2 weeks of failure | Access until you pass: if you don't pass the NCLEX, your access is extended for free until you do, so you never buy prep a second time. |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 2 days |
| Tutoring add-on | Not confirmed | No |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Free trial (Yes), Markets (US, CA).
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Key differences
- Hurst Review scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at SimpleNursing: $46 vs $159.
- Access period is higher at SimpleNursing: 3 to 24 months vs 1 to 4 months.
- Practice questions is higher at SimpleNursing: 4,500 vs 2,000.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at SimpleNursing: 6 vs 4.
- Support channels: only SimpleNursing offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Hurst Review: 1988 vs 2017.
Our verdict on each
Hurst Review
Hurst Review is a specialist NCLEX provider for nursing graduates in the US and Canada, pairing live classes with a score guarantee on the Hurst Now RN All plan, priced at $159. It suits candidates who want guided instruction and a guarantee rather than the cheapest question bank on the market.
SimpleNursing
SimpleNursing suits nursing candidates in US and CA who want one focused exam plan and a pass guarantee that extends access after an unsuccessful attempt. Entry starts at $46 a month, and the risk sits with the guarantee rather than with a long refund window.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Hurst Now RN All starts at $159, above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Allied Schools at $68. | 9.4HigherEntry at $46, monthly at $20, yearly at $180, with a pass guarantee. |
| Offer | 8.8Live classes, 2,000 practice questions, 4 full length tests and a free trial sit in a single package. | 8.84,500 practice questions, 6 full length tests, live classes and 3 to 24 months of access. |
| Trust | 9.6HigherA money back score guarantee and a provider trading since 1988 with phone and help centre support. | 8.0Registered as SimpleNursing LLC in US for US and CA, with a 2 days refund window. |
How they place
| Ranking | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 10 of 33 | 15 of 33 |
Sources behind this comparison
Hurst Review
- hurstreview.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SimpleNursing
- simplenursing.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Nclex | Nclex |
| Legal entity | Hurst Review Services | SimpleNursing LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Online courses
| Fact | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $20 |
| Price per year | Not confirmed | $180 |
| Free tier | Not confirmed | No |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 5 days |
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Subscription |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Science |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $159above the median | $46below the median | $69 |
| Access period | 1 to 4 monthslowest quarter | 3 to 24 monthshighest quarter | 9 |
| Practice questions | 2,000below the median | 4,500above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4below the median | 6below the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 2 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Hurst Review
Pros
- A score guarantee of money back covers the NCLEX, and the terms ask for the full review plus a test within a set window of graduation and notice within a short period after a fail.
- Live classes are part of the package rather than an add on, a feature shared by 89.7% of the brands in this group.
- A free trial lets you work through the material and the class schedule before paying, which 85.7% of brands here also offer.
Cons
- Practice questions sit at 2,000, under the 3,100 typical in this group, and 4 full length tests trail the 6 median.
- Entry fees for Hurst Now RN All at $159 sit well above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Testprep Training at $12.99, with the brand placed at 39 of 65 on entry price.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so candidates who prefer live chat will have to look elsewhere.
SimpleNursing
Pros
- A pass guarantee rather than a refund promise, so an unsuccessful attempt does not mean buying prep again.
- A free trial of 5 days lets you sample 4,500 practice questions before committing.
- Live classes sit alongside the question bank, and assessments are part of the plan.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so nothing stays available once the trial ends.
- The money-back window is 2 days, well under the 14 day site median.
- Exams covered come down to nclex, so no other nursing or professional exam is part of the same plan.
Who each suits
Hurst Review
Who it suits
- Nursing graduates in the US and Canada sitting the NCLEX who want live instruction alongside self study.
- Candidates who want the commitment bounded: access of 1 to 4 months suits a planned final push before a sitting.
- Learners who prefer a focused single exam provider with phone and help centre support over a broad question bank.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget shoppers, since Testprep Training lists entry fees at $12.99 and DRCertifications at $19.99, both well under the Hurst Now RN All fee of $159.
- Candidates who want chat style support or a much longer study runway, since Hurst Review runs on phone and help centre with access of 1 to 4 months while cheaper options such as Testprep Training start at $12.99.
SimpleNursing
Who it suits
- Nursing candidates sitting nclex in US and CA who want questions and live classes in the same place.
- Learners whose test date may move, since access runs 3 to 24 months and a pass guarantee extends it further.
- People who prefer a phone line as well as email, since support covers email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting something free to keep, since there is no free tier and the trial runs 5 days.
- Candidates who want a refund window longer than 2 days, which sits below the 14 day site median.
- Testprep Training or DRCertifications, if the exam is not the NCLEX, since cover here runs to nclex only.
Current offers
Hurst Review
Current offer
Free trial
Free Trial: 30 days
See everything you will get with a Hurst Review
Source, checked September 30, 2026
SimpleNursing
Current offer
Free trial
5-day free trial, no credit card required: 5 days free
Limited access pass: watch real lessons, open study guides and try practice questions; no credit card required.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Free study guide or flashcard set with Full Journey Pass: up to $80 value
Included with the $312 one-time Full Journey Pass; one physical item of your choice, redemption code emailed with the purchase confirmation, no shipping cost.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Nursing Career Passport 1-year access with Pass Guarantee: $99 Elite Learning membership
Included free for one year with the $189 one-time NCLEX-RN Pass Guarantee; redeemed and accessed on Elite Learning.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Hurst Review | SimpleNursing |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Hurst Review
What does Hurst Review cost for the NCLEX?+
The Hurst Now RN All plan starts at $159, and exam fees on that same plan run nclex: $159 - $399. Access lasts 1 to 4 months from the day you buy, so the money covers a defined study window rather than an open ended one. Budget on that window, not on an assumption that the material stays open indefinitely.
Is there a free trial before I pay?+
Yes. Hurst Review offers a free trial on the NCLEX package, so you can work through material before committing. Live classes and the 2,000 practice questions are the parts most worth checking in that window, since the plan is built around guided study rather than a question bank alone. A free trial is common in this group, so treat it as a taste rather than a differentiator.
SimpleNursing
What does SimpleNursing cost to start?+
Entry pricing begins at $46, with a monthly option at $20 and a yearly plan at $180. NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN follow the same structure, priced either as a term pass or month to month, and refunds are handled within 2 days.
Is there a free trial or a free plan?+
There is a free trial, and it lasts 5 days. There is no free tier, so nothing stays available once the trial ends. The trial is the only route to sample 4,500 practice questions and 6 full length tests before paying, so it is worth using in full before deciding.