Comparison

1L vs Study Songs

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

Head to head
About

1L

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
Read full description

Ace your first year of law school stress-free! Created by the same Harvard Law School alumni behind BarMax Bar Review and LSATMax LSAT Prep, 1L is the pioneer in first year law school supplements on mobile. Access audio lectures, black-letter law outlines, multiple-choice questions, practice essays, Emanuel Law in a Flash and Casenote Legal Briefs for every single first year subject. • Civil Procedure • Constitutional Law • Contracts • Criminal Law • Torts • Real Property $1150+ worth of law school supplements for only $24.99/month (app comes with a 7-day free trial. Free trial is for new customers only, subscription will automatically renew until canceled). Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, as stated above, within 24-hours prior to the end of the current billing period. You can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Features include: LEARN FROM LEGENDS Master the black-letter law with audio lectures by legendary law professors including: • Arthur Miller (Civ Pro) • Noah Feldman (Con Law) • Charles Fried (Contracts) • Ronald Sullivan (Crimes) • Jonathan Zittrain (Torts) EMANUEL® LAW IN A FLASH Study anytime, anywhere with Emanuel® Law in a Flash comprehensive flash card set. CASENOTE LEGAL BRIEFS Prepare for class discussion with Casenote Legal Briefs, the most popular and trusted case brief series. MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE Multiple choice questions with answer explanations. PRACTICE ESSAYS Work on issue spotting and analysis with sample essay questions. For more information on the in-app subscription you can view our privacy policy here https://testmaxprep.com/policies/privacy or our terms of service https://testmaxprep.com/policies/terms

About

Study Songs

This app uses original songs and clickable terms to help law students memorize multi-state bar exam material. Developed by lawyers, it blends melody with study content for easier retention, offering a flexible and engaging study method.

Highlights
  • 80 original study songs
  • 1,500+ clickable terms with explanations
  • Content for all 7 multi-state exam topics
  • Songs organized by bar exam subject
  • Full song lyrics included
  • Study on the go
Features
Read full description

Study Songs helps law students retain information more easily than with conventional study methods. With 80 original songs and almost 1,500 clickable terms, students are able to memorize material for the multi-state bar exam simply by listening to music. All songs, terms and explanations were written by lawyers who have graduated from Ivy League institutions. Our unique blend of melody and study content facilitates memorization while giving students the flexibility to study at their leisure or on the go. As we like to say, "Melody to Memory". Music has been a key study aid throughout our entire lives, beginning with a presence in nursery rhymes and mathematics lessons. Content cloaked in melody naturally becomes ingrained in our memories. Upon hearing an old tune on the radio, we are able to effortlessly sing along. In applying melody, this app covers all of the content that appears on the seven multi-state exam topics, including the newly added Civil Procedure subject. The songs are organized by album according to bar exam subject. Civil Procedure (10 songs) Torts (13 songs) Property (13 songs) Constitutional Law (10 songs) Contracts (10 songs) Evidence (8 songs) Criminal Law (8 songs) Criminal Procedure (8 songs) (The exam's Criminal Law topic has been placed in two albums) Each song comes with a full set of lyrics and explanations for key terms that are crucial to the exam. Give us a try and let us know what you think. Three free songs are waiting for you in your Study Hall! Happy studying, and remember “Melody to Memory!”

Screenshots

1L4 screens
Study Songs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 1L at 4.7 against Study Songs's 3.8. 1L also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (314 vs 20). Study Songs's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases 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. 1L sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per month and Study Songs sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

1L holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1L has 314 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of 1L's written reviews are positive against 75% of Study Songs's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

1L ships an update every 6 weeks, Study Songs every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
1L versus Study Songs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter1LStudy Songs
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (314 ratings) — better3.8 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews57.7% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings314 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTestMax, Inc.Study Songs

Customer experience

1L

All ratings314 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.3%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative38.5%

Study Songs

All ratings20 ratings
Positive65.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral3.6%
Negative21.4%

Bugs and requests

1L

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • 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
Show 6 more
  • App freezes
  • App crashes when opening flashcard set or outline
  • Lectures often unplayable
  • Login requires Apple ID confirmation every time
  • Swiping left and right in MCQs has issues
  • Seeing correct answer after finishing MCQs has issues

Requested features

7 requests
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • Allow computer access
  • Provide clearer cancellation instructions

Study Songs

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

1L

Subscriptions1
  • BarMax 1L7 Days trial$24.991 Month
14 purchases

Study Songs

One-time14
  • Equal Protection$2.99
  • Character Evidence$2.99
  • Hearsay$2.99
Show 11 more
  • First Amendment Speech$2.99
  • Mortgages$2.99
  • Servitudes - Easements and Covenants$2.99
  • Criminal Law$18.99
  • Criminal Procedure$18.99
  • Evidence$18.99
  • Constitutional Law$22.99
  • Contracts$22.99
  • Civil Procedure$22.99
  • Property$29.99
  • Torts$29.99

Questions

Is 1L free?
1L is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Study Songs free?
Study Songs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 1L or Study Songs?
1L is rated higher. 1L averages 4.7 out of 5 from 314 ratings, while Study Songs averages 3.8 from 20 ratings.
Do 1L or Study Songs have ads?
1L shows ads; Study Songs does not.
Which is updated more often, 1L or Study Songs?
1L ships an update every 6 weeks, and Study Songs every 4 months. Most recently, 1L was updated on October 1, 2026 and Study Songs on October 4, 2026.

Other comparisons