# Black Spectacles vs ARE 5.0 Study Buddy

The clearest difference is price: Black Spectacles at Free against ARE 5.0 Study Buddy's $3.99. Black Spectacles also leads on ratings volume (13 vs 1). ARE 5.0 Study Buddy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.8). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Black Spectacles is free to download; ARE 5.0 Study Buddy costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ARE 5.0 Study Buddy 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.

Black Spectacles ships an update fortnightly, ARE 5.0 Study Buddy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Black Spectacles | ARE 5.0 Study Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/are-50-study-buddy/id6792139560/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Paid |
| Size | 79 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Spectacles, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474708769) | [Nathan Burazer](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788218630) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### ARE 5.0 Study Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/are-50-study-buddy/id6792139560)

Master architectural licensing exams with a visual study tool designed to combat fatigue. It uses interactive games and precise diagrams to teach complex building codes and clearances.

**Highlights:** Visual flashcards with precise diagrams, Interactive 'Plans Examiner' game mode, Spaced repetition learning, Performance tracking and insights, Achievement badges for motivation, Focus on common exam topics

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Black Spectacles free?

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

### Is ARE 5.0 Study Buddy free?

ARE 5.0 Study Buddy costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Black Spectacles or ARE 5.0 Study Buddy?

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

### Do Black Spectacles or ARE 5.0 Study Buddy have ads?

Neither Black Spectacles nor ARE 5.0 Study Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Black Spectacles or ARE 5.0 Study Buddy?

Black Spectacles ships an update fortnightly, and ARE 5.0 Study Buddy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Black Spectacles was updated on October 16, 2026 and ARE 5.0 Study Buddy on October 12, 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.*