# askCORB vs Black Spectacles

The clearest difference is price: Black Spectacles at Free against askCORB's $39.99. Black Spectacles also leads on ratings volume (13 vs 1). askCORB's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.8). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Black Spectacles is free to download; askCORB costs $39.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

askCORB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Black Spectacles has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

askCORB ships an update every 2 weeks, Black Spectacles fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | askCORB | Black Spectacles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askcorb/id6745680640/reviews)** | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 27 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Lutsko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813318777) | [Black Spectacles, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474708769) |

## What reviewers say

### askCORB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askcorb/id6745680640)

This app is a comprehensive study tool designed to help architects prepare for and pass all six NCARB ARE 5.0 exams. It offers a vast question bank, flashcards, AI tutoring, and smart progress tracking with a focus on user privacy.

**Highlights:** 4000+ practice questions, 1000+ flashcards, AI architecture tutor, Smart progress tracking, Anki-style spaced repetition, Distraction-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Black Spectacles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991)

Prepare for ARE® and CSE® exams with engaging videos, flashcards, and quizzes. Download content for offline viewing anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Exam preparation, Engaging videos, Interactive flashcards, Quizzes, Offline video downloads

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is askCORB free?

askCORB costs $39.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Black Spectacles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, askCORB or Black Spectacles?

askCORB is rated higher. askCORB averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Black Spectacles averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do askCORB or Black Spectacles have ads?

Neither askCORB nor Black Spectacles shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, askCORB or Black Spectacles?

askCORB ships an update every 2 weeks, and Black Spectacles fortnightly. Most recently, askCORB was updated on October 2, 2026 and Black Spectacles on October 1, 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.*