/why-gasguide

The honest comparison.

We respect the incumbents. They built the market. But they each solve one slice and haven't shipped anything new in years. Here's what we do that they don't, and why one subscription replaces four.

What only gasguide has

Voice-AI mock interviews + oral boards

Speak with an AI examiner. Sub-second response. Score rubric + transcript + weakness map. NO incumbent has this.

Interactive 3D anatomy in the browser

Heart, brain, lungs, airway, spine — all spinnable, zoomable, free of installation. Built on professionally-derived (BodyParts3D) models, not AI generation.

Anatomically-correct image library

1,800+ peer-reviewed medical illustrations from OpenStax, Servier, Wikimedia — searchable by topic, attribution always preserved.

Surgical case library

Hand-authored anesthesia concerns + mock-defense scenarios for every major surgery — currently 44 cases across 15 specialty groups, growing weekly.

Crisis algorithms with related anatomy

12 crisis algorithms (MH, anaphylaxis, LAST, AFE, CVCI, more) with full step-by-step + drugs + pitfalls + sources.

13 working calculators

ABL/EBV, MAC, Aldrete, BMI, BSA, MAP, SVR, Bicarb, O₂ cylinder, ICP/CPP, ped-dose, CO₂ absorbent — all live + showing working.

AANA Practice Manual summaries

27 hand-authored summaries of high-yield AANA documents. Free.

One subscription replaces 4-5 others

Apex ($899) + Vargo ($99) + CSPA ($1,500) + a Picmonic-equivalent + a CE platform = $2,500+ to start. We're $39/mo.

Where the incumbents are strong (and weak)

Apex Anesthesia

$499–$889 (1–4 yr) + SmartBank

Strengths

+3,000+ Q-bank, well-curated
+Allnurses-favorite for boards
+Illustrations + video

Gaps

−No AI
−No voice mock interviews / orals
−No interactive 3D
−Static content

Valley Anesthesia

$600–$835 + $995 retake

Strengths

+3-day live/webinar review
+MemoryMaster cards
+Valley Engage AI chatbot (free)

Gaps

−Allnurses sentiment: 'no longer reflects boards'
−Engage AI is generic ChatGPT-like
−No mock orals

Prodigy Anesthesia

$175–$499.99 (1–4 yr)

Strengths

+5,000+ questions
+25 simulations
+'My Review' stats

Gaps

−No AI tutoring
−No voice features
−Static UX

Vargo Mega App

$99.99 one-time

Strengths

+17 mini-apps in one
+500 cases
+Drug ref + calcs

Gaps

−One-time price = no maintenance
−Reference, not study
−No interactive content
−No AI

CSPA (CRNA School Prep Academy)

$47/mo, $1,397–$2,500 intensives

Strengths

+Owns the admissions niche
+Live human coaching
+Strong community

Gaps

−Pre-SRNA only — abandons you after acceptance
−Human coaching doesn't scale to unlimited practice
−No AI mock interviews

Ollivate

Free / $17.99/mo / $149.99/yr

Strengths

+AI spaced repetition
+Mobile-first, gamified
+Cheap

Gaps

−Q-bank only — no broader reference
−No mock orals or interviews
−Recently launched, light content depth

Try the free tier first.

Drug box · 13 calculators · 12 crisis algorithms · 27 AANA summaries · 44 surgery cases · 5 interactive 3D anatomy systems · 1,800-image library — all free, no signup.

Browse the free reference layer →