# Value Study vs Acrylic University

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Acrylic University at none against Value Study's 7. Acrylic University also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Value Study's advantage is ratings volume (3.3K vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Acrylic University asks for nothing beyond the download.

Acrylic University holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Value Study ships an update fortnightly, Acrylic University every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | Acrylic University |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acrylic-university/id6504585093/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 92.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 35 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [Acrylic University](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756382532) |

## What reviewers say

### Value Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127)

This app helps artists improve their skills by analyzing light and shadow in reference images. It allows users to break down tones step-by-step, from simple black and white to more complex value ranges, aiding in the understanding of depth and form. It's a tool to enhance traditional art studies.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step tone breakdown, Highlighting areas of same value, Focus on light, shadow, and form, Greyscale value studies, Works with reference images

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Study Pro | $3.99 | per year |
| Value Study Pro (yearly) | $6.99 | per year |
| Appreciation | $2.99 | one-time |
| Value Study Pro (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Generous boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Study | $17.99 | one-time |
| Amazing supporter | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for value studies
- 💡 Allows adjusting number of values
- 🎨 Useful for artists and painters
- ⭐ Great tool for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with accurately representing blue hues
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/importing photos
- 🤔 Unclear instructions/lack of tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or fails to launch on some devices
- Occasional issues with image processing

**Requested features**

- Add ability to adjust value midpoint
- Include color study/color adjustment options
- Provide side-by-side comparison of original and simplified images
- Add customizable grid overlay


### Acrylic University

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acrylic-university/id6504585093)

Access all your art tutorial videos in one convenient place. Receive notifications for new content and easily save your favorite lessons for quick access. Enjoy a seamless viewing experience without needing to remember passwords.

**Highlights:** Access all videos in one app, Push notifications for news, Password-free video access, Save favorite posts, Easy to use interface

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Value Study free?

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

### Is Acrylic University free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Value Study or Acrylic University?

Acrylic University is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Acrylic University averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Value Study or Acrylic University have ads?

Neither Value Study nor Acrylic University shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Value Study or Acrylic University?

Value Study ships an update fortnightly, and Acrylic University every 3 weeks. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 17, 2026 and Acrylic University on September 29, 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.*