# Value Study vs Real Art Academy

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | Real Art Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews) | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-art-academy/id6738841622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 92.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [OTERO GONZALEZ PATRICIA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782536298) |

## 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


### Real Art Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-art-academy/id6738841622)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $39.00 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $299.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*