# RefHQ vs By Rule

The clearest difference is rating: By Rule at 5.0 against RefHQ's 4.5. By Rule also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). RefHQ's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RefHQ sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and By Rule sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

By Rule holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of RefHQ's written reviews are positive against 100% of By Rule's.

RefHQ ships an update every 2 weeks, By Rule every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RefHQ | By Rule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refhq/id1441702159/reviews) | **[5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/by-rule/id1532845521/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joseph Switzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441702158) | [Daniel Aupont](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532845523) |

## What reviewers say

### RefHQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refhq/id1441702159)

Master sports rules with interactive quizzes and study materials. Compete with others, access pregame content, and take notes for game-specific preparation. Supports basketball and lacrosse, with more sports coming soon.

**Highlights:** Rulebook and casebook quizzes, Multiple choice and T/F questions, New content added monthly, Study specific rules or shuffle mode, Compete for best question streak, Access IAABO pregame content, Pregame notepad for notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RefHQ Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Single RuleSet Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Single Sport | $5.99 | per month |
| RefHQ Monthly All Subscription | $9.99 | per month |


### By Rule

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/by-rule/id1532845521)

Master NCAA basketball rules with this AI-powered study tool. Features flashcards, quizzes, audio rules, video clips, and instant AI interpretations to help officials, coaches, and players learn and track their progress.

**Highlights:** AI-powered study companion, Flashcards and quizzes, Audio rules and video clips, Instant AI rules interpretations, Progress tracking and analytics, Real-game scenarios

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| By Rule Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| By Rule Standard Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| By Rule Pro | $6.99 | per month |
| By Rule Pro Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| By Rule Pro Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| By Rule Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| By Rule Pro | $179.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RefHQ free?

RefHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is By Rule free?

By Rule is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RefHQ or By Rule?

By Rule is rated higher. RefHQ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while By Rule averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do RefHQ or By Rule have ads?

Neither RefHQ nor By Rule shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RefHQ or By Rule?

RefHQ ships an update every 2 weeks, and By Rule every 3 weeks. Most recently, RefHQ was updated on June 1, 2026 and By Rule on June 5, 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.*