# Brightspace Portfolio — user reviews > 73 indexed App Store user reviews of Brightspace Portfolio by D2L Corporation, rated 2.20/5 from 42 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightspace-portfolio/id1248949337/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightspace-portfolio/id1248949337.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 11 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 29 ## What do users think of Brightspace Portfolio? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Easy for primary grades (Funster mode) - 👍 Good for collecting oral evidence **Cons** - 👎 Extremely difficult to use - 👎 Confusing interface - 👎 Hard to navigate - 👎 Not intuitive - 👎 Forces camera on for login - 👎 Forces file downloads - 👎 Sign-in flow is the worst - 👎 No information architecture - 👎 Useless transition - 👎 Difficult to keep track of files - 👎 Relies heavily on memorization - 👎 Missing basic features (Google Drive integration) - 👎 Slower than expected - 👎 Annoying and frustrating - 👎 Fails with internet connection - 👎 Newest release is broken - 👎 School email not recognized - 👎 Server unavailable for login - 👎 No tech support - 👎 Confusing UI - 👎 Forced QR code login - 👎 Unclear portfolio view - 👎 No links to child's account - 👎 Messages/photos don't show - 👎 Website works, app doesn't - 👎 Spies on you - 👎 Uploads fail - 👎 Only takes pictures - 👎 Laggy and doesn't work - 👎 Terrible and confusing - 👎 Worse than Google Classroom - 👎 Can't submit Word documents - 👎 Lost submitted work - 👎 Connection breaks - 👎 Can't get past evidence screen - 👎 Impossible to switch accounts - 👎 No minus stars available - 👎 Doesn't load QR code - 👎 Too many steps - 👎 Not user friendly - 👎 Can't see submitted work - 👎 No confirmation of upload - 👎 Doesn't allow upload from album - 👎 Can't scan class code - 👎 QR code doesn't always work - 👎 "My device" login fails - 👎 "My device" workflow bad for multiple siblings - 👎 "At Home With Funster" monster sometimes fails - 👎 White screen on QR scan - 👎 Takes too long to sign in - 👎 Poorly put together - 👎 Can't hand in or check grades - 👎 Blank page on "My device" - 👎 Fails to connect - 👎 Can't scan QR code - 👎 Can't see uploaded work - 👎 No confirmation of upload - 👎 Won't scan passcode - 👎 Work not appearing on desktop - 👎 Rarely works for uploads - 👎 Can't upload video - 👎 Barely usable - 👎 Locks in landscape mode - 👎 No means to save profiles - 👎 Demands QR code every time - 👎 Error uploading photo - 👎 Can't upload Google Docs/Word - 👎 Screenshots needed - 👎 Never appear on other side - 👎 "Failed to Connect" error - 👎 Doesn't read QR code on computer - 👎 Hard to navigate - 👎 Not compatible with school - 👎 Not useful - 👎 Torture - 👎 Excessive time to find class - 👎 Doesn't show upload status - 👎 Work sometimes doesn't go through - 👎 Teachers can't give feedback - 👎 Asks for passcode every time - 👎 Video upload issues - 👎 Dumb and useless - 👎 Doesn't allow picking classes - 👎 Annoying to find class - 👎 No notification for upload - 👎 No teacher feedback option - 👎 Color is disliked - 👎 Bad app - 👎 Trash **Commonly reported bugs** - Cannot log on - App crashes or freezes - Sign-in issues - Uploads fail to go through - Video uploads result in black screen - QR code not scanning or connecting - "Failed to Connect" error - Work not appearing in portfolio - App locks in landscape mode - Lost submitted work - Connection breaks during use - App not compatible with school - Server not available - Login issues with school email - Cannot switch between accounts easily - Files not uploading - Videos not saving properly - App is slow and laggy **Most requested features** - Allow uploading from device album - Improve QR code scanning reliability - Add crop and rotate tool for images - Allow submitting Word/Google Docs directly - Option to set default class - Ability to see what has been uploaded - Confirmation of successful upload - Ability to upload video more reliably - Save profiles/portfolios for multiple children - Allow teachers to upload feedback - Add notification for successful upload - Ability to "favorite" classes - Dark mode option - Better integration with Google Drive - Unified app for portfolio and classes - Make it more like Google Classroom ## Newest reviews (15 of 73) ### 1/5 — why *2022-10-16* app is slower than my balding ### 1/5 — Stupid app *2022-09-20* This app sucks it is so annoying and I want to punch someone it makes me so mad😡 ### 1/5 — Newest 1.15.2 broken *2022-01-07* The newest Jan 2022 release is broken. Take photos of work but it never uploads to D2L personal portfolio. Previous versions worked fine. ### 1/5 — It sucks *2022-01-06* I used my school email and it said it didn’t exist. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t Work *2021-12-06, version 1.15.0* The website version works but the app will not let me sign in. It says the server is not available. The school and teacher tried to help but there is no tech help or anyone to contact. Very disappointed!!! ### 1/5 — The worst UI, so confusing *2021-10-28, version 1.14.3* I hate this useless app. Why are you forcing me to use a qr code everytime i want to login in as if I have a piece of paper stapled to my body at all times. Can i even see the work in the portfolio? It isnt clear. Whats the difference between my device or family device? Possibly the worst app i have ever been forced to use. ### 1/5 — Worst app I’ve ever used. *2021-10-26, version 1.14.3* No really. Worst app EVER. Nothing links to my child’s account. None of the messages or photos the teacher posts show up. The website works great. The app is simply a pretty icon on my phone. ### 1/5 — Bad *2021-10-04, version 1.14.3* Bad app remove from app store ### 1/5 — What is this *2021-09-28, version 1.14.3* Not even working for the intended purpose got it from my teachers D2L so I can access it without going through all the trouble and it just wants to upload photos? ### 1/5 — Trash *2021-09-24, version 1.14.3* F*ck Brightspace & F*ck AACPS. Should’ve stuck to Google Classroom. This website drives me to my edge. Ridiculous! ### 1/5 — So hard to use *2021-09-13, version 1.14.3* I don’t like this ### 1/5 — Horrible *2021-09-10, version 1.14.3* This app is trash very confusing same with bright space pulse google classroom is 1000x better ### 1/5 — Bad *2021-09-07, version 1.14.3* Bad ### 1/5 — Meh at Best *2021-09-07* Poor UI Confusing Basically a worse Google Classroom ### 1/5 — Submitting *2021-03-28, version 1.14.3* Why can’t I submit word documents on the app? I can only take pictures. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — It does not work. *2026-02-12* You can’t even log on. ### 1/5 — It sucks *2025-10-21* Dude the app sucks so bad. its so hard to navigate ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2025-09-06* Hard to use, not intuitive, forces me to turn my camera on for initial login even though they say there’s a way to do it without a camera. Its interface is not user friendly, hard to navigate and forces you to download all files instead of just opening in another tab which is extremely frustrating. Edit: this app is just for taking pictures?? But I was directed to this app from my schools LMS thinking I could access it via an app. This system and “ecosystem” is so backwards. ### 1/5 — Absolute garbage app from D2L *2024-06-22* Wow, what a terrible app. The sign in flow is the worst I’ve seen in a long time, and then once you authenticated, all you get is the option to take photos and upload them as “evidence “. Let’s not even talk about the information architecture of this product, which there is none. It’s a shame that we have to use garbage software like this for public school. ### 1/5 — Ugh 😑 😒 *2023-09-10, version 1.16.2* Absolutely HATE this app with a PASSION!! honestly google classroom, wayyyyyyyy better than this crappy app. Wish I could go back…. Anyways as you saw the average star rating you already know that you would know that this app is an absolute abomination 🤬😡 IF POSSIBLE STAY AWAY!!!! but if this an enforced rule that your stupid school district replaced this with instead of Google Classroom just know that you are struggling with this utterly ridiculous and useless transition, trust me your not alone😬😑🙁😤😫😪 ### 1/5 — Please fix it *2023-04-07* I have to use this app for my classes and it’s not letting me sign in or logged in whatever please fix it. Thank you. **Developer response:** Hello, I wanted to send some troubled shooting steps. Please let us know if they work. When Signed into Brightspace on the web, please click on your profile in the top right corner, and select “My Portfolio”. Let us know if you need further assistance at d2lmobileutil@d2l.com From there, click “Log into the App” and a pop up will appear with a QR code. In the mobile app select “My Device” and then select “Scan Code”. Then Scan the QR code from the web and you will be brought in to your institution’s sign in page. Let us know if you need further assistance at d2lmobileutil@d2l.com ### 1/5 — Teacher unable to see any of my sons upload *2023-03-23* Having hard time getting it to work ### 1/5 — Makes no sense *2023-02-25* When you add a video to one of your classes, it will not show how it is stored. Furthermore, it’s very difficult to keep track of where you put the video(s) or picture(s). From my perspective, it relies heavily on memorization. I would rate 1 star if I could. ### 1/5 — Why on god’s green warts can you NOT put google drive things in the portfolio on this app???? *2023-02-08* Title says it all, it’s REALLLLY stupid that it’s missing such a basic feature ### 1/5 — Having issues with uploading *2022-11-21* I’ve tried on multiple occasions to post and it doesn’t go through. My child has no work uploaded and it literally just said failed to upload 💀 ## Most praised reviews (9 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — great *2023-05-13* awesome bro ### 5/5 — Bruh *2022-11-29* Is there just swarms of people targeting me now that I say google classroom deserves all the hate, I’m prob offending crazy 3 yr olds who actually like the crappy app, If you don’t know what I mean, THEN CHECK HOW THE COMMUNITY SEES GOOGLE CLASSROOM IN THE REVIEWS, YOUL SEE REAL HATE THERE ### 5/5 — Very easy to use! Perfect for primary grades! *2020-04-07* This app is the selling feature for Brightspace. Funster mode makes it so easy for young children to use, as the Funster walks them through each step. It is perfect for collecting evidence from students whose oral language skills are stronger than their writing/typing skills. It is a must-have tool for distance learning! ### 3/5 — Boo no me gusta *2022-01-19, version 1.15.2* Luego falla con el internet no la descarguen ### 3/5 — This app creeps me out *2021-09-09, version 1.14.3* Funster looks like he touches children ### 3/5 — Crop and rotate *2020-11-02, version 1.14.0* It desperately needs a crop and rotate tool to upload images. The app has some failure to understand tilt and images usually come out upside down without a way to rotate and fix it. ### 3/5 — Not great if using for more than one child *2020-09-15* This app is easy to use in terms of uploading photos and videos. Even allows you to record your voice. What is annoying is when I want to use the App for more than one portfolio. I have to fully sign out and re-enter all of the information to sign into each of my daughters accounts. It would be much easier if I could stay signed into my institutions d2l (for example DSBN elearning) and save profiles/portfolios for my kids who are in different grades. This way I can easily move between each of their portfolios as needed at different times throughout the day. ### 2/5 — 😡doesn’t work😡 *2021-09-16, version 1.14.3* This app doenst work and I can not sign it and it make me EVRY MAD 😡 ### 2/5 — So hard to use. *2020-10-07* I wish everything was on the same app (portfolio and the classes) it’s also really hard to work. I can never figure out how to hand anything in or check my grades. I wish it was exactly like the website but in the app form. Or more like google classroom. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*