Comparison

Black Spectacles vs ATELITH ARE

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Black Spectacles

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
Read full description

Black Spectacles helps you prepare for the ARE® and CSE® exams with engaging videos, interactive flashcards, and quizzes. You can also download your prep videos and watch them offline anytime, anywhere.

About

ATELITH ARE

Prepare for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE 5.0) with a comprehensive study tool. It offers flashcards, practice questions, mock exams, and reference materials across all six divisions, designed for focused, offline study.

Highlights
  • 610+ flashcards
  • 610+ practice questions with explanations
  • 150 Field Guide reference topics
  • 18 timed mock exams
  • Pomodoro focus timer
  • AIA contracts reference
  • Progress dashboard
Features
Read full description

ATELITH is your AI-powered study companion for the ARE 5.0 (Architect Registration Examination), covering all six divisions in one focused app. Study smarter with an AI Study Partner that answers your questions, explains tough concepts, and generates practice on demand — then reinforce it with video walkthroughs, 600+ flashcards, 600+ practice questions, and timed mock exams built to feel like the real thing. AI STUDY PARTNER Ask anything about the ARE and get clear, exam-focused answers grounded in real study material Generate your own flashcards, quiz questions, and mock exams — targeted to your weakest divisions Generated content is saved to your account and synced with the web Included with every paid plan (upgrade to AI Pro for more, or top up anytime) VIDEO WALKTHROUGHS Narrated walkthroughs that build a topic from the ground up — HVAC systems, project delivery, foundations, column buckling, and more. Checkpoint questions between the clips, written the way the exam asks them, with an explanation after every answer Watch full screen, pick up where you left off, and see your score at the end. New modules are added regularly and appear automatically — no update required STUDY THE FULL EXAM All six divisions: PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, and CE 600+ flashcards with easy/medium/hard self-rating 600+ practice questions with detailed explanations Timed mock exams with case studies and randomized order each attempt Field Guide: concise, exam-relevant reference topics Contracts & Forms: an article-by-article reference for the AIA documents that show up most on the exam STAY ON TRACK Set a priority division and the whole app adapts to it Dashboard with average score, cards rated, and day streak Per-division score breakdowns Built-in Pomodoro focus timer with study analytics PLANS 7-day free trial, then Monthly or Annual Full study library included on every paid plan AI Pro add-on for 1,000 AI prompts/month One-time AI top-ups whenever you need more Manage or cancel anytime in the App Store Study anywhere — your progress follows you across the app and atelithare.com. ATELITH is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to NCARB or the AIA. "ARE" is a registered trademark of NCARB, used here only to describe the exam this app helps you prepare for. Subscription terms: Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription begins after the 7-day free trial and auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your Apple ID settings. Terms: https://atelithare.com/terms Privacy: https://atelithare.com/privacy

Screenshots

Black Spectacles4 screens
ATELITH ARE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ATELITH ARE at 5.0 against Black Spectacles's 3.8. Black Spectacles's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ATELITH ARE sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Black Spectacles asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ATELITH ARE 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Black Spectacles ships an update fortnightly, ATELITH ARE every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Black Spectacles versus ATELITH ARE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlack SpectaclesATELITH ARE
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (13 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlack Spectacles, LLCHATCH MEDIA LLC

Customer experience

Black Spectacles

All ratings13 ratings
Positive69.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.8%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ATELITH ARE

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Black Spectacles

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ATELITH ARE

Subscriptions2
  • ATELITH Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • ATELITH Annual7 Days trial$149.991 Year

Questions

Is Black Spectacles free?
Black Spectacles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ATELITH ARE free?
ATELITH ARE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Black Spectacles or ATELITH ARE?
ATELITH ARE is rated higher. Black Spectacles averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while ATELITH ARE averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Black Spectacles or ATELITH ARE have ads?
Neither Black Spectacles nor ATELITH ARE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Black Spectacles or ATELITH ARE?
Black Spectacles ships an update fortnightly, and ATELITH ARE every 11 days. Most recently, Black Spectacles was updated on October 16, 2026 and ATELITH ARE on October 6, 2026.

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