# Dolphin vs AP® Core

The clearest difference is ads: Dolphin at none against AP® Core's shown. Dolphin also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 4) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). AP® Core's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 85%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

AP® Core holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dolphin has 1.4K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Dolphin's written reviews are positive against 100% of AP® Core's.

Dolphin ships an update every 2 weeks, AP® Core monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dolphin | AP® Core |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-sat-prep/id6748280981/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ap-core-ai-study-helper/id6810006030/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 84.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#124** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PaloAI Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824977301) | [Michael LaBarbera](https://appshunter.io/developer/6810006032) |

## What reviewers say

### Dolphin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-sat-prep/id6748280981)

**Currently charting:** #124 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Build a consistent study habit for SAT and ACT exams with daily practice questions and detailed explanations. Track your progress and focus on areas needing improvement, with optional features to block distracting apps.

**Highlights:** Daily practice questions, Worked explanations, Vocabulary review, Focus Mode for distraction blocking, Progress and streak tracking, Widgets for quick access

**In-app purchases:** none


### AP® Core

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ap-core-ai-study-helper/id6810006030)

Prepare for AP exams with interactive lessons, AI-powered explanations, and practice questions. Master topics step-by-step, track your learning, and review mistakes to build confidence for your tests.

**Highlights:** Interactive unit walkthroughs, AI-powered guided lessons, Visual explanations with graphs, Multiple-choice and free-response practice, Mistake log and flashcards, Daily challenges and study planner, Covers 23 AP courses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dolphin free?

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

### Is AP® Core free?

AP® Core is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Dolphin or AP® Core?

AP® Core is rated higher. Dolphin averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while AP® Core averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Dolphin or AP® Core have ads?

AP® Core shows ads; Dolphin does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dolphin or AP® Core?

Dolphin ships an update every 2 weeks, and AP® Core monthly. Most recently, Dolphin was updated on November 5, 2026 and AP® Core on November 6, 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.*