Comparison

Value Study vs Real Art Academy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Value Study

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
Read full description

In art, value (or tone) refers to how light or dark a colour is. If you're learning to paint or draw, doing value studies is one of the best ways to improve. These small, loose sketches in greyscale help you understand where shadows fall and highlights appear—essential for capturing depth and form. Value Study is a simple, focused tool designed to help you see values more clearly in your reference images. Instead of just converting a photo to black and white, this app lets you break down tones step by step. Start with just black and white to map out the biggest shapes, then gradually add more values to refine your understanding. You can also highlight all areas of an image that share the same value, making it easier to see subtle shifts in tone. This is especially useful in complex references, like portraits, where different parts of the image might have the same level of shadow but look completely different in colour. Value Study isn’t here to replace traditional studies—it’s here to enhance them. Whether you're sketching, painting, or working digitally, this tool makes it easier to focus on the fundamentals of light, shadow, and form. Try it for free with all features enabled on sample images from Unsplash before deciding to unlock the full app with a low-cost yearly or lifetime purchase. All Value Study Pro upgrades count as lifetime purchase. Either option will unlock Value Study across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Annual: Auto-renews yearly. Lifetime: One-time payment, no fees. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Real Art Academy

Master realism with guided video lessons from artist Patricia Otero. Explore pastel techniques, access a growing library of content, and join a global community. Learn, create, and even launch your art career.

Highlights
  • Pastel technique tutorials
  • Growing library of realism content
  • Lessons for all skill levels
  • Art for relaxation and inspiration
  • Business of art guidance
  • Global artist community
  • Direct feedback from instructor
Read full description

Guided by artist Patricia Otero, the Real Art Academy offers a comprehensive video catalog designed for those who want to master realism. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this is your space to learn, grow, and create lifelike works of art using pastel techniques. || Explore the Video Catalog || · Pastel Technique Tutorials Unlock the secrets of blending, shading, and layering to bring your creations to life. Watch step-by-step videos that guide you through essential techniques. · A Growing Library of Realism Content Dive into an ever-expanding collection of videos, from in-depth courses to quick tips and process showcases. New videos are regularly added to keep your inspiration flowing. · For All Levels of Learning Whether you’re just starting out or refining advanced skills, you’ll find tutorials tailored to every level. · Art for Relaxation and Inspiration Not every video is a lesson. Sit back and enjoy calming art sessions, observing Patricia’s process as she transforms pastels into lifelike portraits. · Beyond Art: Launch Your Career Access videos that teach the business of art, covering branding, marketing, pricing, and sales to help you turn your passion into a profession. || Join a Global Community || The Real Art Academy isn’t just about videos—it’s a vibrant community of artists and students from around the world. Share your artwork, receive feedback directly from Patricia, and connect with like-minded creators. Together, we grow, learn, and inspire one another. Join the Real Art Academy and immerse yourself in a supportive space that combines expert instruction, a rich catalog of videos, and a global community of art enthusiasts. Whether you want to learn, create, or connect, this is your home for mastering realism. -- ▷ Already a Member? Sign-In to access your subscription. ▷ New? Subscribe in the app to get instant access. Real Art Academy offers auto-renewing subscriptions. You'll receive unlimited access to content on all your devices. Payment is charged to your Account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing varies by location and is confirmed prior to purchase. Subscription automatically renews each month unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period, or the trial period (when offered). Cancel anytime in Account Settings. For more information see our: -Terms of Service: https://my.realartacademy.com/terms -Privacy Policy: https://my.realartacademy.com/privacy

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
Real Art Academy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Value Study at free with in-app purchases against Real Art Academy's subscription. Value Study also leads on ratings volume (3.3K vs 10). Real Art Academy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Real Art Academy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Real Art Academy 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 10, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update fortnightly, Real Art Academy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Value Study versus Real Art Academy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyReal Art Academy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings)5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.3K — better10
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedOTERO GONZALEZ PATRICIA

Customer experience

Value Study

All ratings3,333 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews200 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.5%

Real Art Academy

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Value Study

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Real Art Academy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Value Study

Subscriptions2
  • Value Study Pro$3.991 Year
  • Value Study Pro (yearly)$6.991 Year
One-time5
  • Appreciation$2.99
  • Value Study Pro (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Generous boost$9.99
Show 2 more
  • Value Study$17.99
  • Amazing supporter$24.99
2 purchases

Real Art Academy

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$39.001 Month
  • Annual Subscription$299.001 Year

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Real Art Academy free?
Real Art Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Value Study or Real Art Academy?
Real Art Academy is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Real Art Academy averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.
Do Value Study or Real Art Academy have ads?
Neither Value Study nor Real Art Academy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or Real Art Academy?
Value Study ships an update fortnightly, and Real Art Academy monthly. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 17, 2026 and Real Art Academy on September 25, 2026.

Other comparisons