Free NCLEX Resources In 2026

Preparing for the NCLEX can be overwhelming.

After years of nursing school, you're facing one final pass/fail exam standing between you and your license, and the big-name question banks (UWorld, Archer, Kaplan) all cost money.

The good news: you can build a genuinely strong foundation for free. In this article, we've done the research and compiled the best free NCLEX prep resources, thousands of practice questions, Anki decks, high-yield cheat sheets, and study planners that nursing graduates actually use.

A quick note on the exam: The NCLEX is pass/fail (there's no numeric score), delivered as a computerized adaptive test of 85–150 questions. Since April 2023, it includes Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) item types, case studies and clinical-judgment questions, so we've flagged the resources that specifically prepare you for NGN.

Here are the main takeaways:

• Nurse Plus Academy & Nurseslabs: Best for free high-volume practice questions with rationales, the single most important NCLEX prep activity.

• University of Maryland NextGen Test Bank: Best for Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) case studies and clinical-judgment items built by nursing faculty.

• Saunders & Debase27 Anki Decks: Best for active-recall review of high-yield nursing content through spaced repetition.

• Nurseslabs Medications & SimpleNursing Lab Values: Best for memorizing the pharmacology and lab values the NCLEX tests relentlessly.

• NCLEX Bootcamp Cheat Sheets & Matus Mnemonics: Best for quick, high-yield topic review and memory aids.

• NCLEX Bootcamp, NurseInTheMaking & Level Up RN Planners: Best for structuring your prep into a realistic day-by-day study plan.

Free NCLEX Resources Summary Table

Free NCLEX Resources In 2026

1. Nurse Plus Academy NCLEX App

Nurse Plus Academy is a completely free NCLEX prep platform with over 2,700 exam-like practice questions, including Next Generation NCLEX case studies. It's mobile-friendly, covers both RN and PN content, and requires no signup to start.

This free resource offers:

a) 2,700+ Practice Questions: A large, free question pool covering all NCLEX content areas.

b) NGN Case Studies: Next Generation NCLEX case studies and clinical-judgment items, the newest and hardest question format.

c) Adaptive Quizzes: Quizzes that adjust to your performance to focus on your weak areas.

d) RN and PN Coverage: Works whether you're sitting the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN.

Because doing practice questions is the #1 predictor of NCLEX success, a free bank of 2,700+ questions with NGN items makes Nurse Plus the strongest free starting point.

What Is Nurse Plus Academy Best Suited For?

Best for high-volume, free question practice including NGN case studies. Ideal as your primary free question bank for both RN and PN candidates.

PROS

• Completely free with 2,700+ NCLEX practice questions.
• Includes Next Generation NCLEX case studies.
• Adaptive quizzes that adjust to your performance.
• No signup or account required to start.

CONS

• Mobile-friendly web app rather than a native iOS/Android app.
• May include ads to support the free model.

2. Nurseslabs NCLEX Practice Questions Test Bank

Nurseslabs hosts one of the largest free NCLEX practice question banks online, thousands of NCLEX-RN questions organized by topic, each with a detailed rationale.

This free resource offers:

a) Thousands of Practice Questions: Organized by nursing topic and content area.

b) Detailed Rationales: Every question explains why the answer is correct, the part that actually builds your knowledge.

c) Regular Updates: Kept current with NCLEX content.

d) No Account Required: Fully free and open access.

Nurseslabs is the go-to free question bank for sheer volume. Pair it with Nurse Plus so you never run out of fresh questions.

What Is The Nurseslabs Test Bank Best Suited For?

Best for unlimited free practice questions organized by topic with rationales. Ideal for high-volume drilling across every NCLEX content area.

PROS

• Completely free with no account or signup required.
• Thousands of NCLEX-RN questions organized by topic.
• Detailed rationales provided for each answer.
• Regularly updated with current NCLEX content.

CONS

• Web-based only with no offline or app access.
• Ads on the site may be distracting during practice.

3. NursingEducation.org Custom NCLEX Qbank

NursingEducation.org offers a free custom question bank with 2,250+ analysis and application-level questions. You build your own practice tests by choosing topics, question count, and difficulty.

This free resource includes:

a) 2,250+ Application-Level Questions: Focused on the higher-order thinking the NCLEX demands.

b) A Custom Test Builder: Select topics and length to target exactly what you need.

c) Detailed Rationales: For every question, to reinforce learning.

The custom test builder is what sets this apart, it lets you drill a specific weak area (say, cardiac or endocrine) in a focused, self-built quiz.

What Is The NursingEducation.org Qbank Best Suited For?

Best for building targeted, custom practice tests on specific weak areas. Ideal for students who want control over topic and difficulty.

PROS

• Over 2,250 free application-level NCLEX questions.
• Customizable test builder for topic and question count.
• Detailed rationale for every question.
• Focus on analysis and application-level thinking.

CONS

• Website design feels dated compared to modern platforms.
• No mobile app or offline access.

4. University of Maryland NextGen NCLEX Test Bank

The University of Maryland School of Nursing developed a free repository of Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) questions as part of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center initiative. These are faculty-built NGN items, case studies and clinical-judgment questions.

This free resource offers:

a) NGN-Style Items: Including case studies and clinical-judgment question formats.

b) Faculty-Developed Content: Written by nursing educators at an accredited School of Nursing.

c) Useful for Students and Educators: Great for practicing the newest NCLEX format.

Since NGN case studies are the hardest part of the modern NCLEX and the least represented in free resources, this faculty-made bank is a valuable, credible way to practice them.

What Is The UMD NextGen Test Bank Best Suited For?

Best for practicing Next Generation NCLEX case studies and clinical-judgment items from a credible academic source. Ideal for getting comfortable with the NGN format.

PROS

• Free NGN-style questions developed by university nursing faculty.
• Covers NGN item types including case studies.
• Created by an accredited School of Nursing.
• Useful for both students and educators.

CONS

• Smaller question bank than commercial platforms.
• Originally built for Maryland programs, so scope may be limited.

5. Kaplan Free NCLEX Practice Questions

Kaplan offers a free set of NCLEX-RN practice questions covering all major exam topic areas, a taste of the question style from an established test-prep company.

This free resource includes:

a) Questions Across All Content Areas: Safe and Effective Care Management, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity.

b) Kaplan-Quality Question Style: A preview of how Kaplan writes NCLEX items.

c) No Purchase Required: Free access on the Kaplan website.

Kaplan's free set is limited but polished, a good way to sample a professional question style alongside the high-volume free banks above.

What Are Kaplan's Free NCLEX Questions Best Suited For?

Best for sampling professionally written NCLEX questions across all content areas. Ideal as a supplement to the larger free question banks.

PROS

• Free access to Kaplan-quality NCLEX practice questions.
• Covers all major NCLEX-RN topic areas.
• Created by a well-established test-prep company.
• No account or purchase required.

CONS

• Limited number of free questions versus the paid course.
• Partly serves as a preview for Kaplan's paid products.

6. Saunders Comprehensive Review NCLEX-RN Anki Deck

This community-created Anki deck contains all the practice questions from the Saunders Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN (8th Edition), one of the most popular NCLEX Anki decks available, giving you a structured way to review Saunders content with spaced repetition.

This free resource offers:

a) All Saunders 8th Edition Questions: Turned into spaced-repetition flashcards.

b) Trusted Source Material: Based on the Saunders review, a staple of NCLEX prep.

c) Long-Term Retention: Anki's algorithm schedules reviews to lock content into memory.

If you own (or plan to use) the Saunders textbook, this deck is the perfect free companion for reviewing its questions efficiently.

What Is The Saunders Anki Deck Best Suited For?

Best for spaced-repetition review of the trusted Saunders question set. Ideal as a companion to the Saunders Comprehensive Review textbook.

PROS

• Free and immediately accessible through AnkiWeb.
• Based on the widely trusted Saunders Comprehensive Review.
• Covers all practice questions from the 8th Edition.
• Spaced repetition aids long-term retention.

CONS

• Community-maintained with possible minor duplicate cards.
• Best used alongside the actual Saunders textbook.

7. Nursing Anki Deck by Debase27

The Nursing Anki Comprehensive NCLEX Deck by Debase27 is a community deck built primarily from UWorld question rationales and ATI practice questions, two of the most respected paid resources, shared free via Google Drive.

This free resource includes:

a) UWorld & ATI-Based Cards: Distilling rationales from premium sources into flashcards.

b) Comprehensive Coverage: Spanning the major NCLEX-RN content areas.

c) Spaced Repetition: For durable, long-term recall.

This deck is a favorite on the NursingSchoolAnki subreddit because it captures the reasoning from UWorld and ATI in a free, reviewable format.

What Is The Debase27 Deck Best Suited For?

Best for active recall of UWorld- and ATI-derived rationales at no cost. Ideal for students who want premium-quality reasoning in a free deck.

PROS

• Free and immediately downloadable via Google Drive.
• Based on UWorld rationales and ATI questions.
• Comprehensive coverage of major NCLEX-RN topics.
• Spaced repetition supports long-term retention.

CONS

• Community-maintained with no guaranteed updates.
• Requires familiarity with Anki setup and daily review.

8. NCLEX-RN 400+ Flashcards

The NCLEX-RN 400+ Flashcards deck is a community Anki deck of 400+ high-yield, clinically oriented cards designed to sharpen critical thinking and reinforce the concepts most tested on the NCLEX-RN.

This free resource offers:

a) 400+ High-Yield Cards: Focused on clinical reasoning rather than rote facts.

b) NCLEX-RN Content Focus: Targeting exam-relevant concepts.

c) Spaced Repetition: Self-paced review through Anki.

A more compact option than the full Saunders deck, good if you want a focused, high-yield set you can get through quickly.

What Are The NCLEX-RN 400+ Flashcards Best Suited For?

Best for a focused, high-yield deck emphasizing clinical critical thinking. Ideal for students who want a manageable card count over an exhaustive one.

PROS

• Free and immediately accessible through AnkiWeb.
• 400+ high-yield, clinically oriented cards.
• Focused on critical thinking and NCLEX-RN content.
• Spaced repetition supports long-term retention.

CONS

• Community-maintained with no official support team.
• Requires familiarity with Anki and daily review habits.

9. Nursing High-Yield ATI Anki Deck

The Nursing High-Yield ATI Anki Deck is a community compilation of NCLEX-style questions and flashcards made throughout nursing school, focused on high-yield ATI content.

This free resource includes:

a) NCLEX-Style Questions From ATI Content: Compiled across a full nursing program.

b) High-Yield Flashcards: Spanning multiple nursing topics.

c) Spaced Repetition: For active recall over time.

A solid supplemental deck if your program uses ATI, it mirrors the content you're already being tested on in school.

What Is The Nursing High-Yield ATI Deck Best Suited For?

Best for reinforcing high-yield ATI content through active recall. Ideal for students in ATI-based nursing programs.

PROS

• Free and immediately accessible through AnkiWeb.
• Covers high-yield ATI content relevant to the NCLEX.
• Mix of NCLEX-style questions and flashcards.
• Spaced repetition supports long-term retention.

CONS

• Card formatting may lack uniformity.
• Community-maintained with no guaranteed updates.

10. Brainscape NCLEX-RN Flashcards

Brainscape is a free adaptive flashcard platform with community NCLEX-RN decks covering content from Saunders, Kaplan, Hurst, Lippincott, and HESI. Its confidence-based repetition targets your weakest areas, and it works on iOS, Android, and web.

This free resource offers:

a) Community NCLEX-RN Decks: Drawing on major review books.

b) Adaptive, Confidence-Based Repetition: You rate how well you know each card, and the app prioritizes accordingly.

c) Cross-Platform Access: Study anywhere on web or mobile.

Brainscape is a polished, app-based alternative to Anki if you prefer a more guided flashcard experience with less setup.

What Is Brainscape Best Suited For?

Best for a polished, adaptive flashcard app that needs no manual setup. Ideal for students who want Anki-style spaced repetition with a friendlier interface.

PROS

• Free access to community NCLEX-RN decks.
• Adaptive confidence-based repetition targets weak areas.
• Covers Saunders, Kaplan, Hurst, Lippincott, and HESI content.
• Available on iOS, Android, and web.

CONS

• Community decks vary in quality and accuracy.
• Pro features require a paid subscription.

11. Nurseslabs 101 Must-Know NCLEX Medications Cheat Sheet

The Nurseslabs 101 Must-Know NCLEX Medications Cheat Sheet covers the top 100+ drugs commonly tested on the NCLEX, with drug classes, mechanisms of action, key nursing considerations, and high-alert flags.

This free resource includes:

a) 100+ Must-Know Medications: Organized by drug class.

b) Mechanisms and Nursing Pearls: Plus high-alert medication flags for safety questions.

c) Current Pharmacology Info: Regularly updated and free with no signup.

Pharmacology is one of the highest-yield (and most feared) NCLEX topics. This single resource covers the drugs you're most likely to see.

What Is The Nurseslabs Medications Cheat Sheet Best Suited For?

Best for mastering the high-yield medications the NCLEX tests most. Ideal for building your pharmacology foundation.

PROS

• Completely free with no signup or download required.
• Covers 100+ must-know NCLEX medications.
• Includes drug classes, actions, pearls, and high-alert flags.
• Regularly updated with current pharmacology.

CONS

• Online article format rather than a downloadable PDF.
• Focused on pharmacology only.

12. SimpleNursing Lab Values Cheat Sheet

The SimpleNursing Lab Values Cheat Sheet is a free downloadable PDF summarizing the most important lab values for the NCLEX, normal ranges and critical values you need to memorize.

This free resource offers:

a) Essential Lab Values: Normal ranges for common blood tests.

b) Critical Value Highlights: The values that trigger NCLEX safety and priority questions.

c) Printable PDF: For offline, quick reference.

Lab values are pure memorization but come up constantly. Keep this sheet handy and drill it until the ranges are automatic.

What Is The SimpleNursing Lab Values Cheat Sheet Best Suited For?

Best for memorizing the normal and critical lab values tested throughout the NCLEX. Ideal as a printable quick-reference during study.

PROS

• Free downloadable PDF for offline study.
• Covers the essential lab values tested on the NCLEX.
• Concise and well-organized for quick reference.
• Created by SimpleNursing, a trusted nursing brand.

CONS

• Email signup required to download.
• Focused exclusively on lab values.

13. Matus Nursing Review NCLEX Mnemonics PDF

The Matus Nursing Review NCLEX Mnemonics PDF is a free download featuring easy-to-remember mnemonics for commonly tested NCLEX topics, including pharmacology and nursing assessment frameworks.

This free resource includes:

a) Pharmacology Mnemonics: Such as heparin vs. warfarin antidotes.

b) Nursing Assessment Memory Aids: For frameworks and concepts.

c) Printable Format: No signup, direct PDF download.

Mnemonics are a fast way to lock in tricky details. This free PDF is a great supplement to the medication and lab-value cheat sheets.

What Is The Matus Mnemonics PDF Best Suited For?

Best for memorizing tricky pharmacology and nursing concepts through mnemonics. Ideal as a supplement to content-based cheat sheets.

PROS

• Completely free direct PDF download with no signup.
• Memorable mnemonics make complex topics stick.
• Covers high-yield pharmacology and nursing concepts.
• Printable for quick reference.

CONS

• Limited to mnemonics rather than comprehensive review.
• Does not cover all NCLEX content areas.

14. NCLEX Bootcamp Free Cheat Sheets

NCLEX Bootcamp offers a library of free cheat sheets that condense individual NCLEX topics, pharmacology, lab values, cardiac rhythms, and more, into single, digestible pages.

This free resource offers:

a) Topic-Specific Cheat Sheets: One clean summary per high-yield topic.

b) Concise Single-Page Format: Easy to skim and review quickly.

c) Free, No Signup: Openly accessible on the Bootcamp site.

These cheat sheets are a great way to review a specific topic fast, use them as quick refreshers between question sets.

What Are The NCLEX Bootcamp Cheat Sheets Best Suited For?

Best for fast, single-page reviews of high-yield NCLEX topics. Ideal for quick refreshers between practice sessions.

PROS

• Completely free with no account required.
• Multiple topic-specific cheat sheets on high-yield areas.
• Concise single-page format for quick review.
• Clinically relevant content from NCLEX Bootcamp.

CONS

• Online-only with no single downloadable PDF bundle.
• Summaries, not a substitute for deep content review.

15. NCLEX Bootcamp Printable Study Schedules

NCLEX Bootcamp's study schedules are free printable 1-month and multi-month plans, plus an interactive online tool for building a personalized NCLEX study schedule.

This free resource includes:

a) Printable Schedules: In 1-month and multi-month formats.

b) An Interactive Scheduler: Build a plan around your own timeline.

c) Daily Structure and Milestones: To keep you on track for test day.

A ready-made schedule removes the guesswork of planning. Pick the timeline that matches your test date and follow it.

What Are The NCLEX Bootcamp Study Schedules Best Suited For?

Best for a ready-made study schedule in flexible timelines. Ideal for graduates who want structure without building a plan from scratch.

PROS

• Free printable schedules in multiple formats.
• Interactive tool for a personalized plan.
• 1-month and multi-month options for flexible timelines.
• No account required for the printable versions.

CONS

• General templates rather than content-specific plans.
• The scheduler may promote Bootcamp's paid resources.

16. NurseInTheMaking Free 30-Day NCLEX Study Calendar

NurseInTheMaking offers a free 30-day NCLEX Study Calendar that gives you a day-by-day framework for content review, practice questions, and self-assessment over a one-month sprint.

This free resource offers:

a) A 30-Day Day-by-Day Plan: Structured blocks for each day of study.

b) Built-In Milestones: Review checkpoints to track your progress.

c) Printable Format: Simple to print and follow.

If you have roughly a month to prepare, this calendar is a clean, accountable framework to organize your final push.

What Is The NurseInTheMaking Calendar Best Suited For?

Best for a structured 30-day study sprint. Ideal for graduates with about a month until their exam date.

PROS

• Free 30-day structured NCLEX study calendar.
• Day-by-day framework aids time management.
• Created by a nursing professional with NCLEX experience.
• Simple, printable format.

CONS

• Email signup may be required to access.
• One-month format may not suit longer timelines.

17. Level Up RN Nursing School Study Planner

The Level Up RN Nursing School Study Planner is a free Google Sheets template from Cathy Parkes of Level Up RN, built to organize study sessions and track progress for nursing school and NCLEX prep.

This free resource includes:

a) A Google Sheets Template: Easy to copy to your own Drive and customize.

b) Study Session Tracking: A framework for organizing and monitoring your prep.

c) Flexible Layout: Adaptable to your personal goals and timeline.

Created by one of the most trusted names in nursing education, this planner is a flexible, no-cost way to stay organized across your whole study period.

What Is The Level Up RN Study Planner Best Suited For?

Best for organizing and tracking study sessions in a customizable spreadsheet. Ideal for students who like to plan and monitor progress digitally.

PROS

• Completely free with no signup or email required.
• Google Sheets format is easy to copy and customize.
• Created by Cathy Parkes, a well-known nursing educator.
• Flexible for both nursing school and NCLEX prep.

CONS

• Requires a Google account to copy and edit.
• Designed broadly for nursing school, not NCLEX-specific.

How To Combine Multiple Free NCLEX Resources

No single free tool will get you across the finish line, but these resources cover every stage of NCLEX prep when layered correctly. The key with the NCLEX is to make practice questions with rationale review the center of your plan, with content review and memorization in support.

Build Your Study Plan

Set a realistic timeline before you start.

• NurseInTheMaking 30-Day Calendar (for a ~1-month sprint) or NCLEX Bootcamp Study Schedules (for flexible timelines): Choose a framework that matches your test date.
• Level Up RN Study Planner: Track your daily sessions and progress across the whole period.

Review High-Yield Content

Lock in the facts the NCLEX tests over and over.

• Nurseslabs 101 Must-Know Medications and SimpleNursing Lab Values: Master pharmacology and lab values first, they show up constantly.
• Matus Mnemonics PDF: Use mnemonics to remember the trickiest details.
• NCLEX Bootcamp Cheat Sheets: Refresh individual topics quickly as they come up.

Reinforce With Active Recall

Turn content into durable memory with spaced repetition.

• Saunders or Debase27 Anki Deck: Pick one comprehensive deck as your daily driver.
• NCLEX-RN 400+ or High-Yield ATI Deck: Add a focused deck for extra high-yield review.
• Brainscape: Choose this instead if you prefer an app to manual Anki setup.

Drill Practice Questions (The Core of NCLEX Prep)

This is where most of your time should go. Always read the rationale, right and wrong answers.

• Nurse Plus Academy and Nurseslabs Test Bank: Your two primary high-volume free banks.
• NursingEducation.org Custom Qbank: Build targeted tests on weak areas your practice reveals.
• Kaplan Free Questions: Sample a professional question style.

Prepare Specifically for NGN

The Next Generation NCLEX case studies need dedicated practice.

• University of Maryland NextGen Test Bank and Nurse Plus NGN Case Studies: Practice clinical-judgment items until the format feels routine.

A Note on Paid Question Banks

Free resources build a strong foundation, but many successful test-takers add one paid, adaptive question bank, UWorld, Archer/Nurse Achieve, or Kaplan, for the most realistic NGN practice and readiness assessments in the final weeks. Master the fundamentals for free first, then decide whether a paid Qbank is worth it for your final prep.

To plan and track your prep, use our free NCLEX tools: the free NCLEX practice questions to drill anytime, the NCLEX study plan generator to build a personalized schedule, and the NCLEX pass probability calculator to estimate your likelihood of passing based on your practice performance.

By centering your prep on free practice questions and layering in Anki decks, cheat sheets, and a solid study schedule, you can prepare thoroughly for the NCLEX without spending a cent.

FAQs About Free NCLEX Resources

Are Free NCLEX Resources Enough To Pass?

For many candidates, yes, especially when you center your prep on high-volume practice questions with rationale review. Free banks like Nurse Plus (2,700+ questions) and Nurseslabs (thousands) give you more than enough to practice on.

That said, many successful test-takers also use one paid adaptive question bank (UWorld, Archer, or Kaplan) in the final weeks for the most realistic NGN practice and readiness prediction. Free resources are excellent for building the foundation.

How Many Practice Questions Should I Do For The NCLEX?

Most experts recommend working through several thousand questions before test day, always reviewing the rationale for each. Between Nurse Plus, Nurseslabs, and NursingEducation.org, the free banks alone offer well over 5,000 questions.

What's The Best Free Resource For Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)?

The University of Maryland NextGen Test Bank (faculty-built NGN case studies) and Nurse Plus Academy's NGN case studies are the best free options for practicing clinical-judgment items in the current format.

What's The Best Free Way To Study Pharmacology And Lab Values?

Use the Nurseslabs 101 Must-Know Medications cheat sheet for pharmacology, the SimpleNursing Lab Values cheat sheet for lab ranges, and the Matus Mnemonics PDF to make the details stick. These three cover the highest-yield memorization topics on the exam.

Are Free NCLEX Anki Decks Reliable?

The popular decks, Saunders, Debase27, and NCLEX-RN 400+, are based on trusted sources like the Saunders review, UWorld, and ATI. Because they're community-maintained, occasionally verify a card against a trusted textbook, but they're a reliable, free way to review with spaced repetition.

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