# Canvas Parent vs Jamf Parent

The clearest difference is rating: Canvas Parent at 4.4 against Jamf Parent's 2.3. Canvas Parent also leads on ratings volume (112K vs 13) and chart position (#114 vs unranked). Jamf Parent's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Canvas Parent holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas Parent has 112K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Canvas Parent's written reviews are positive against 4% of Jamf Parent's.

Canvas Parent ships an update monthly, Jamf Parent fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Canvas Parent | Jamf Parent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (112K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-parent/id1097996698/reviews)** | [2.3 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jamf-parent/id1458797105/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **112K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **9.0% of reviews** | 4.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#114** | — |
| Size | 167 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) | [JAMF Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/290965542) |

## What reviewers say

### Canvas Parent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-parent/id1097996698)

**Currently charting:** #114 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app allows parents and guardians to monitor their child's academic progress, communicate with teachers, and receive important updates. It helps families stay involved in their student's education by tracking grades, assignments, and feedback.

**Highlights:** Message teachers directly, View grades and assignments, Receive real-time notifications, See teacher feedback, Use calendar view for upcoming tasks

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient for tracking assignments and grades
- 👍 Allows communication with teachers
- 🤖 Useful for remote/virtual learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🤯 Confusing and not user-friendly
- 🔍 Lack of visibility into student work and progress
- 🔀 Inconsistent implementation across teachers and schools
- 🤖 Struggles with remote/virtual learning needs

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent log-out issues
- Inability to access account or find school
- Delayed or inaccurate display of assignment statuses and grades
- Calendar view and other key features not functioning as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to view submitted assignments and teacher feedback
- Better organization and sorting of assignments by due date
- Improved communication and coordination between parents, students, and teachers
- More consistent and intuitive user experience across the platform


### Jamf Parent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jamf-parent/id1458797105)

Manage your child's school-issued device with this app. Restrict app and website access, control device features like the camera, and schedule usage times for homework or bedtime.

**Highlights:** Restrict and allow apps, Restrict and allow device features, Restrict and allow websites, Schedule app restrictions, Receive arrival notifications

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Canvas Parent free?

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

### Is Jamf Parent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Canvas Parent or Jamf Parent?

Canvas Parent is rated higher. Canvas Parent averages 4.4 out of 5 from 112K ratings, while Jamf Parent averages 2.3 from 13 ratings.

### Do Canvas Parent or Jamf Parent have ads?

Neither Canvas Parent nor Jamf Parent shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Canvas Parent or Jamf Parent?

Canvas Parent ships an update monthly, and Jamf Parent fortnightly. Most recently, Canvas Parent was updated on September 25, 2026 and Jamf Parent on September 22, 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.*