Comparison

Aktiv Learning vs Macmillan

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

Head to head
About

Aktiv Learning

This platform offers dynamic problems and interactive tools for college-level chemistry and math. It helps students visualize abstract STEM concepts and provides instructors with real-time insights into class understanding. Features include a mobile-friendly Lewis structure drawing tool and over 250 practice questions.

Highlights
  • Interactive Lewis structure drawing tool
  • Dynamic STEM problems
  • Real-time class results
  • Over 250 built-in practice questions
  • Create in-class or homework assignments
  • Isoform recognition for answers
Read full description

Aktiv Learning is an active learning platform built specifically for college-level chemistry and mathematics. Say goodbye to static content and generic multiple choice questions and hello to dynamic problems that are designed to help students learn and visualize abstract concepts in STEM. Aktiv Learning allows chemistry instructors to ask students engaging questions, such as drawing Lewis structures, and receive real-time information on what structures the class is drawing. The app features a custom-built tool that allows students and instructors to quickly and intuitively draw Lewis structures on mobile devices. Additionally, both students and instructors have access to over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. Features: • Intuitive Lewis structures drawing tool built specifically for mobile devices - Use as engaging demonstration for your students to show example Lewis structures and reinforce concepts such as the octet rule, formal charge, and VSEPR. Students can take advantage of the drawing tool to visualize the relationship between Lewis structures and molecular shapes. • Create in-class or homework assignments - Perfect for clicker, recitation, or review problems. Students receive push notifications to alert and remind them of pending assignments. • Assign or practice with over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. • Real-time class results - Quickly find common incorrect structures to address student misunderstanding before exams. • Isoform recognition - Aktiv’s technology recognizes correct answers independent of the drawn structure orientation. • Export student activity - Student participation and performance exported in a tap of a button. • Easy sign-up - Students and instructors can create accounts and join courses all within the app in a few steps. • School IT and device independent - Assign, work, and review from any mobile device and over any network connection. More content and features coming soon!

About

Macmillan

Access podcasts featuring a variety of people from Macmillan Learning, including editorial, marketing, and authors. Gain content knowledge and hear stories relevant to campus life.

Highlights
  • Content knowledge podcasts
  • Campus life stories
  • Interviews with authors
  • Insights from editorial and marketing teams
  • Audio learning content
Features
Read full description

Podcasts to help you gain content knowledge and stories you can tell on campus. These podcasts feature a variety of people at Macmillan Learning, including Editorial, Marketing, Authors and many others.

Screenshots

Aktiv Learning4 screens
Macmillan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aktiv Learning at 73% against Macmillan's 0%. Aktiv Learning also leads on rating (3.2 vs 1.4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). Macmillan's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Aktiv Learning sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Macmillan asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Aktiv Learning holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aktiv Learning has 184 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Aktiv Learning's written reviews are positive against 0% of Macmillan's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aktiv Learning ships an update every 3 weeks, Macmillan every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Aktiv Learning versus Macmillan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAktiv LearningMacmillan
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (184 ratings) — better1.4 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews72.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings184 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB63 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTop Hat MonoclePodbean Tech LLC

Customer experience

Aktiv Learning

All ratings184 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral2.7%
Negative43.5%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative25.3%

Macmillan

All ratings9 ratings
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Aktiv Learning

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Pop-up warnings flicker and disappear too quickly
  • Drag-and-drop fails 70% of the time on iOS
  • App crashes on specific problems with no recovery
  • Login errors and password reset failures
  • Users locked out of questions permanently
Show 5 more
  • Window resizing issues on iPad 12.9in
  • Questions don't load properly or display incompletely
  • Subscripts/superscripts not displaying on Mac
  • Split-screen functionality disabled
  • Inconsistent performance between app and web versions

Requested features

10 requests
  • In-app notification system for assignment reminders
  • Ability to sign up for courses on mobile app
  • Split-screen functionality on iPad
  • Zoom capability for periodic table
  • Reset button for Lewis structure questions
Show 5 more
  • Full solutions displayed after using all attempts
  • Better hints and guidance for dimensional analysis
  • School login integration on mobile app
  • Improved question clarity and directions
  • Subscript and superscript display on web version

Macmillan

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Aktiv Learning

One-time1
  • Chem101 Course Activation$29.99
None

Macmillan

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aktiv Learning free?
Aktiv Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Macmillan free?
Macmillan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Aktiv Learning or Macmillan?
Aktiv Learning is rated higher. Aktiv Learning averages 3.2 out of 5 from 184 ratings, while Macmillan averages 1.4 from 9 ratings.
Do Aktiv Learning or Macmillan have ads?
Neither Aktiv Learning nor Macmillan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aktiv Learning or Macmillan?
Aktiv Learning ships an update every 3 weeks, and Macmillan every 7 months. Most recently, Aktiv Learning was updated on October 14, 2026 and Macmillan on October 12, 2026.

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