# CLARE vs Black Spectacles

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Black Spectacles at 100% against CLARE's 57%. Black Spectacles also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months). CLARE's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CLARE holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of CLARE's written reviews are positive against 100% of Black Spectacles's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CLARE ships an update every 7 months, Black Spectacles fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CLARE | Black Spectacles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clare-are-test-prep/id1439909730/reviews)** | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 60 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Collaborative Learning, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439909729) | [Black Spectacles, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474708769) |

## What reviewers say

### CLARE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clare-are-test-prep/id1439909730)

This app provides targeted content and study tools to help aspiring architects prepare for their licensing exams. It offers a dynamic study plan, flashcards, articles, visual aids, and a glossary, all accessible online from any device. Users can also access coaching and support from experts.

**Highlights:** Dynamic Study Plan, Archiflash Study Cards, ARE-focused Articles, Visual Learning Gallery, Comprehensive Glossary, Personalized Notebooks, One-on-one Coaching

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Black Spectacles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991)

Prepare for ARE® and CSE® exams with engaging videos, flashcards, and quizzes. Download content for offline viewing anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Exam preparation, Engaging videos, Interactive flashcards, Quizzes, Offline video downloads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CLARE free?

CLARE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Black Spectacles free?

Black Spectacles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CLARE or Black Spectacles?

CLARE is rated higher. CLARE averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Black Spectacles averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do CLARE or Black Spectacles have ads?

Neither CLARE nor Black Spectacles shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CLARE or Black Spectacles?

CLARE ships an update every 7 months, and Black Spectacles fortnightly. Most recently, CLARE was updated on October 2, 2026 and Black Spectacles on October 16, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*