# C5.now vs ReferenceFrame

The clearest difference is price: C5.now at Free against ReferenceFrame's $4.99. C5.now also leads on ratings volume (215 vs 1). ReferenceFrame's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.4). On rating, update cadence, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

C5.now is free to download; ReferenceFrame costs $4.99 up front. C5.now sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. ReferenceFrame asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for C5.now against 5.0 for ReferenceFrame. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: C5.now has 215 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

C5.now ships an update fortnightly, ReferenceFrame every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | C5.now | ReferenceFrame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [5.0 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/c5now/id6751903400/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/referenceframe-frame-designer/id6758589669/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **215** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 98.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Best chart rank | #189 | **#157** |
| Size | 50 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fourthwall, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464239151) | [Graham Larue](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873829108) |

## What reviewers say

### C5.now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/c5now/id6751903400)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app offers a curated selection of real documentaries, featuring a variety of genres without studio interference. Enjoy unfiltered stories, field reporting, and first-person access across politics, culture, crime, and more. Watch on any device and support independent creators.

**Highlights:** Curated documentary library, Multiple genres available, Unfiltered stories and field reporting, Cross-device compatibility, Human curation by experts, Support for independent creators, New releases and deep dives

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Stream Membership | $7.99 | per month |


### ReferenceFrame

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/referenceframe-frame-designer/id6758589669)

**Currently charting:** #157 Top Paid · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app calculates all necessary dimensions for custom picture framing, including mat cuts and material depths. It ensures your artwork fits within the frame's rabbet and generates a detailed cut list and technical diagram. Works offline and supports various measurement units.

**Highlights:** Calculates frame, mat, and cut dimensions, Checks artwork fit within rabbet, Generates technical cross-section diagrams, Exports PDF summary, Saves configurations and design history, Supports inches (with fractions) and millimeters, Works entirely offline

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is C5.now free?

C5.now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ReferenceFrame free?

ReferenceFrame costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, C5.now or ReferenceFrame?

C5.now and ReferenceFrame are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 215 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do C5.now or ReferenceFrame have ads?

Neither C5.now nor ReferenceFrame shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, C5.now or ReferenceFrame?

C5.now ships an update fortnightly, and ReferenceFrame every 2 weeks. Most recently, C5.now was updated on October 18, 2026 and ReferenceFrame on October 15, 2026.

### Which is more popular, C5.now or ReferenceFrame?

C5.now currently peaks at #189 in the App Store charts, and ReferenceFrame at #157. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*