# CohortX vs ref

The clearest difference is update cadence: ref at weekly against CohortX's every 2 weeks. CohortX's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CohortX ships an update every 2 weeks, ref weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CohortX | ref |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-ology/id6747456171/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **9** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 20 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Jiufeng Liu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676028786) | [Ref-ology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821525658) |

## What reviewers say

### CohortX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cohortx/id6736871625)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ref

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-ology/id6747456171)

This app helps referees master the inner game through reflection, presence, and practice. It offers educational resources, game film breakdowns, and live events to sharpen skills and deepen understanding. Built by officials, for officials, it fosters a community for growth and networking.

**Highlights:** Training videos and game film analysis, Expert breakdowns, Live webinars and mentoring, On-demand sessions, Interactive space for confidence and awareness, Community for questions and feedback

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CohortX free?

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

### Is ref free?

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

### Do CohortX or ref have ads?

Neither CohortX nor ref shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CohortX or ref?

CohortX ships an update every 2 weeks, and ref weekly. Most recently, CohortX was updated on October 3, 2026 and ref on October 11, 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.*