If you're preparing for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), there's a good chance you're deciding between UWorld and AdaptiBar. Both are well known in the MBE prep space. But when you take a closer look, you'll discover why more and more law school students are choosing us.
Here's a breakdown of what each offers — and why we give you more value, better learning tools, and a clearer path to MBE success.
UWorld vs. AdaptiBar: Feature Comparison (2025)
Important factors in deciding what you need from a high-quality MBE prep course |
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AdaptiBar |
|---|---|---|
Price |
$419 | $395 |
Total questions |
2,000+ (1,350+ NCBE®) | 1,608 (1,400 NCBE®) |
Latest NCBE questions |
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Performance analytics |
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Full-length, timed MBE exam simulation |
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In-depth, visual explanations |
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Answer explanations include case citations and statutes |
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Spaced-repetition flashcards |
(static, sold separately +$105-280) | |
Digital note-taking |
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Immediate access (early start) |
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All-inclusive pricing |
(add-ons up to $775) | |
Who Has the Stronger MBE QBank?
UWorld's MBE QBank includes 2,000+ questions, with 1,350+ licensed directly from recent MBEs. AdaptiBar offers about the same number of licensed questions, plus 200 written by their legal team — a total of just over 1,600.
Here's the difference: Our in-house attorneys write all 600+ additional questions and put each one through a rigorous 17-step review process, ensuring they match the format, content, and difficulty of today's MBE. It's the kind of prep that makes the real thing feel like just another round of practice. Check out our free MBE sample questions.
Who Has Better Answer Explanations?
Both UWorld and AdaptiBar provide written explanations for every answer. But we are known for making the law easier to understand. Our explanations are clearly structured, with short rule statements, plain language, and logic that walks you through the reasoning of a lawyer.
But what really sets us apart is how we bring those explanations to life. We're the only MBE prep with an in-house team of graphic designers who work alongside our legal experts to build a visual language. Every illustration, flowchart, and icon is grounded in learning science to help you understand complex rules faster and retain them longer.
"I love UWorld! It's so easy to use, and the explanations are much easier to follow than Adaptibar."
— Tristina C.
Who Has More Exam-Like Practice?
Both UWorld and AdaptiBar let you build custom practice tests by subject or topic and offer performance feedback as you go. But we include a full-length self-assessment that gets as close as possible to the real thing.
It's 200 questions, timed, and built from the most recent NCBE-licensed exam. You get a full score breakdown and detailed answer explanations, so you're not just practicing — you're simulating test day. When the real exam comes around, it won't feel like a surprise.
Who Has More Useful Learning Tools?
UWorld isn't just a question bank — it's a full system built to help you master the MBE. With every answer explanation, you can instantly create a flashcard, save a note, or drop a rule into your notebook.
Everything works together. You save what matters, tag what's tricky, and review it later without losing your place. Spaced-repetition flashcards bring the hard stuff back at the right time, and My Notebook keeps your best takeaways organized and easy to find. And while AdaptiBar has flashcards, they're not customizable, and you'll have to pay extra ($105-280).
Who Has More Helpful Analytics?
AdaptiBar uses adaptive technology to serve you more questions in areas where you're struggling. It sounds smart, and it can be helpful. But adaptive systems don't always know why you got a question right. Was it real understanding, or a lucky guess? That's hard to measure, and sometimes it means you don't see the full picture.
UWorld takes a different approach. We show you exactly how you're performing by subject, subtopic, time spent, and even answer changes. You can filter your practice sets by performance, tag tricky topics, and zero in on what needs more review. It's not just data — it's control. You're the one steering your study plan, not a black-box algorithm.
Who Has a Better Mobile App?
UWorld and AdaptiBar have mobile apps, so you can take practice questions on the go. But our app lets you do more than just answer questions. You can create flashcards, save notes, add rules to your notebook, and track your progress — just like you would on a desktop.
It all stays synced and works seamlessly. So whether you're on the couch, at the library, or riding the train, you're not just reviewing — you're actually moving forward.
Who Should You Choose?
UWorld and AdaptiBar offer free trials, so you can try them before committing. But we make it easier. You get 7 days of access and 50 licensed MBE questions — and you don't need a credit card to sign up.
It's a simple way to see how the platform works, how the answer explanations feel, and whether the tools actually click for you — no pressure, no surprise charges.
Start your UWorld MBE free trial now
Why Students Choose UWorld …
Explanations are extremely helpful in narrowing legal rules, and the citations are excellent. Testing individual subjects in Tutor Mode has been a critical feature for me that other MBE supplements do not have. I love the platform, data collection, and reports/graphs on performance. It helped me pinpoint my weaknesses for improvement."
The detailed answer explanations are exceptional, especially the visual explanations and charts. I loved the number of practice questions and the ability to customize the practice tests by subject matter and question count. I like that UWorld uses recent NCBE-licensed questions. It's critical to getting my MBE score up."
Much better than Adaptibar. I loved the QBank's concise explanations for every answer choice. The customizable flashcards are fantastic, and the reporting features are beneficial for improvement. I wish I had used the QBank earlier in my MBE prep!"
