# Study Notes ABA vs FirstWork

The clearest difference is monetization model: FirstWork at free with in-app purchases against Study Notes ABA's subscription. FirstWork also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). Study Notes ABA's advantage is ratings volume (3.6K vs 14) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Study Notes ABA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and FirstWork sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Study Notes ABA holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Study Notes ABA has 3.6K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Study Notes ABA's written reviews are positive against 100% of FirstWork's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Study Notes ABA ships an update every 5 weeks, FirstWork every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Study Notes ABA | FirstWork |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-notes-aba/id1496799082/reviews)** | [4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firstwork/id6468642504/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 88.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bx Connections LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496799081) | [FirstWork LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1705661852) |

## What reviewers say

### Study Notes ABA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-notes-aba/id1496799082)

Prepare for the BCBA exam with a comprehensive study service. Access over 2500 practice questions, personalized study plans, live study groups, and motivational tools. Engage with a community of learners and utilize fun games and note-sharing features to master ABA concepts.

**Highlights:** 2500+ practice questions, Personalized study plan & countdown, Weekly live study group sessions, Leaderboard and motivational badges, Study tips and strategies, Note sharing and discussion board, Deep breathing tool and study games

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Updated Premium Yearly | $119.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing app
- 👍 Helpful study tool
- 👍 Fun and convenient
- 👍 Reinforcing and motivating
- 👍 Comprehensive features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🐛 Errors in questions
- 🐛 Glitches and freezing
- 💰 Expensive for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- App crashing on certain sections
- Inconsistent marking of correct answers

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More explanations for answers
- Improved proofreading of content
- Better integration of live study groups


### FirstWork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firstwork/id6468642504)

This platform offers digital Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI/DTT) with thousands of ABA and SPED learning goals. It provides innovative rewards and deep customization for personalized learning programs, trusted by professionals.

**Highlights:** Thousands of ABA and SPED learning goals, Matching, Receptive Identification, FFC, Expressive Language and Phonics activities, Customizable spelling and counting exercises, Progress monitoring and export features, Focus Mode to limit distractions, Digital reward system with app access

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Base | $12.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Study Notes ABA free?

Study Notes ABA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is FirstWork free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Study Notes ABA or FirstWork?

Study Notes ABA is rated higher. Study Notes ABA averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while FirstWork averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.

### Do Study Notes ABA or FirstWork have ads?

Neither Study Notes ABA nor FirstWork shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Study Notes ABA or FirstWork?

Study Notes ABA ships an update every 5 weeks, and FirstWork every 8 days. Most recently, Study Notes ABA was updated on September 22, 2026 and FirstWork on September 19, 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.*