# Programming Hub vs Alison

The clearest difference is ads: Programming Hub at none against Alison's shown. Programming Hub also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). Alison's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Programming Hub sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per year and Alison sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Programming Hub against 4.8 for Alison. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.8K and 12K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Programming Hub's written reviews are positive against 79% of Alison's.

Programming Hub ships an update every 2 months, Alison every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Programming Hub | Alison |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/programming-hub-learn-coding/id1049691226/reviews) | [4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alison-online-education-app/id1558468968/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9.8K | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | **79.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 122 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Rightsol Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1635771188) | [Alison (Capernaum Limited)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1558468970) |

## What reviewers say

### Programming Hub

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/programming-hub-learn-coding/id1049691226)

Learn to code through interactive, game-like lessons. Access over 5000 code examples and 35+ courses in various programming languages, all within a single app. Practice and build your skills with the world's fastest compiler.

**Highlights:** Interactive coding lessons, 5000+ code examples, 35+ programming courses, Fastest compiler on iOS, Concept-based illustrations, Categorized program view

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO for 1 year with discount | $1.49 | per year |
| PRO access for 1 year Display | $1.99 | per month |
| VIP Access | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Month Coding Pass | $9.99 | per month |
| PRO membership for 3 months | $14.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro access for 1 year | $18.99 | per year |
| PRO access for 1 year + Trial | $29.49 | per year |
| PRO membership 1 year 75% OFF | $31.99 | per year |
| 365 Days of Unlimited Coding | $44.95 | per year |
| Lifetime Upgrade | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlock PRO: Lifetime Access | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to understand lessons
- 🚀 Bite-sized learning content
- 💡 Wide variety of courses
- 🎓 Provides certificates upon completion
- 👍 Good for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Issues with pro access and purchases
- 🤔 Lack of depth in some courses
- 🔍 Unclear free vs. paid content separation
- 🔧 Poor customer support responsiveness

**Reported bugs**

- Courses not loading or crashing
- Certificates not being awarded properly
- Inconsistent behavior with pro access
- Bugs in test/quiz functionality

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced programming courses
- Improve progress tracking and syncing across devices
- Implement a dark mode option
- Allow skipping of lessons and more flexibility in navigation


### Alison

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alison-online-education-app/id1558468968)

Access over 4,000 free, CPD-accredited courses to upskill or change careers. Earn diplomas and certificates from anywhere, anytime, with flexible, self-paced learning. Join a global community of millions and build job-ready skills.

**Highlights:** 4,000+ free CPD-accredited courses, Earn diplomas and certificates, Mobile-friendly course content, Personalized course recommendations, Flexible self-paced learning, Track progress and schedule reminders, Synced coursework across devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alison offline learning monthly sub | $5.00 | per month |
| Alison offline learning yearly sub | $39.99 | per year |
| Alison offline learning lite | $3.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate NG | $11.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $17.49 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $17.99 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $18.49 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $22.99 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $23.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $26.99 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $28.99 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $29.49 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $31.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital certificate | $39.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital diploma US | $75.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital diploma | $75.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital diploma | $80.00 | one-time |
| Alison digital diploma | $100.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💥 Excellent learning platform
- 🎓 Useful certifications and diplomas
- 🤓 Informative and educational content
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🌟 Great for personal and career growth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid certificates after free courses
- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Limited course selection in some areas
- ⏱️ Lack of progress saving and resume options

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing during assessments
- Inconsistent course progress tracking
- Login issues with Apple credentials

**Requested features**

- Offline mode for courses
- More language options
- Improved search and filtering
- Ability to favorite/save courses
- Downloadable course materials


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Programming Hub free?

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

### Is Alison free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Programming Hub or Alison?

Programming Hub and Alison are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9.8K and 12K ratings respectively.

### Do Programming Hub or Alison have ads?

Alison shows ads; Programming Hub does not.

### Which is updated more often, Programming Hub or Alison?

Programming Hub ships an update every 2 months, and Alison every 2 weeks. Most recently, Programming Hub was updated on September 22, 2026 and Alison on September 24, 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.*