# StudyPDF vs Shale

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shale at every 5 days against StudyPDF's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StudyPDF sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Shale sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StudyPDF ships an update every 2 weeks, Shale every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | StudyPDF | Shale |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 40 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luis Henrich-Bandis](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786604816) | [Elias Leinonen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893625652) |

## What reviewers say

### StudyPDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/studypdf-ai-study-and-exam-prep/id6786604814)

Transform your course materials into personalized study aids. This AI-powered tutor generates flashcards, quizzes, and summaries from your uploaded notes, slides, or even YouTube lectures. Focus your revision on areas where you need the most improvement, with all information directly linked to its source.

**Highlights:** AI-powered study tutor, Personalized flashcards with spaced repetition, Quizzes and practice exams, Study guides and summaries, Mind maps and cheat sheets, Offline study capabilities, Source citation for all content

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Ultra Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $71.99 | per year |
| Ultra Yearly | $119.99 | per year |


### Shale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shale-block-and-study/id6799409520)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shale Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Shale Annual Plan | $34.99 | per year |
| Shale Pro Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StudyPDF free?

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

### Is Shale free?

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

### Do StudyPDF or Shale have ads?

Neither StudyPDF nor Shale shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StudyPDF or Shale?

StudyPDF ships an update every 2 weeks, and Shale every 5 days. Most recently, StudyPDF was updated on October 25, 2026 and Shale on October 25, 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.*