# 1L vs BARBRI

1L and BARBRI both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 58% of 1L's written reviews are positive against 17% of BARBRI's. BARBRI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 1L sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per month. BARBRI asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for 1L against 4.6 for BARBRI. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BARBRI has 2.9K ratings behind it against 314, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of 1L's written reviews are positive against 17% of BARBRI's.

1L ships an update every 6 weeks, BARBRI every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1L | BARBRI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (314 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1l/id826828514/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbri/id1594886450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 314 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **57.7% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 88 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TestMax, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/445785345) | [BARBRI, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/507282204) |

## What reviewers say

### 1L

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1l/id826828514)

This app provides comprehensive study materials for first-year law students. Access audio lectures, outlines, practice questions, and case briefs for all core subjects. Learn from renowned law professors and prepare for class with interactive tools.

**Highlights:** Audio lectures by legendary law professors, Black-letter law outlines, Emanuel® Law in a Flash flashcards, Casenote Legal Briefs, Multiple choice practice questions, Practice essay questions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BarMax 1L | $24.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for 1L studies
- 👍 Helps with bar prep
- 👍 Wonderful structure and quality
- 👍 Loved the flashcards
- 👍 Best study aid

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unusable due to crashes
- 🐛 Disappointing performance
- 🐛 Glitchy multiple choice section
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate MCQs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after 10 seconds
- App crashes every time tried
- App always crashes
- App crashes immediately and will not open
- App crashes before first flashcard is displayed

**Requested features**

- Allow MCQs per area again
- Fix update that includes all questions
- Develop more difficult questions
- Fix glitches in multiple choice section
- Offer month-to-month payment option


### BARBRI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbri/id1594886450)

This app offers comprehensive legal education resources for students and professionals. It provides tools for LSAT prep, law school success, bar exam preparation, and continuing legal education. Access video lectures, customized study plans, and performance tracking to advance your legal career.

**Highlights:** LSAT prep courses, 1L law school material, Customized study calendars, Downloadable video lectures, Bar exam review modules, SQE preparation tools, Mini MBA for lawyers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and knowledgeable
- 👍 Great content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and poorly designed
- 🔋 Drains battery and disconnects
- 👎 Unreliable and frequently crashes
- 💤 Video player issues (freezing, losing place)

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent login issues and lost progress
- Compatibility problems with newer devices
- Lectures and content not loading properly
- Offline mode not functioning as expected

**Requested features**

- Improve video player and offline experience
- Add progress tracking and schedule features
- Optimize app for mobile devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1L free?

1L is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BARBRI free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 1L or BARBRI?

1L is rated higher. 1L averages 4.7 out of 5 from 314 ratings, while BARBRI averages 4.6 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do 1L or BARBRI have ads?

1L shows ads; BARBRI does not.

### Which is updated more often, 1L or BARBRI?

1L ships an update every 6 weeks, and BARBRI every 2 months. Most recently, 1L was updated on October 1, 2026 and BARBRI on October 16, 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.*