Comparison

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource vs CTX SAFE

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

Head to head
About

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource

Access and read Elsevier textbooks on your iOS device. Download books for offline study, search your entire library, and add notes and highlights. Sync your progress across devices for a seamless learning experience.

Highlights
  • Download books for offline reading
  • Search entire library
  • Create notes and highlights
  • Sync across devices
  • Pinch to zoom figures
Features
Read full description

Use Elsevier® eBooks to download and access Elsevier textbooks on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Read your books online or offline, search across your full library, and create notes and highlights to help you study. Elsevier eBooks Features: • Download books to your iOS device for easy online or offline reading. • Simple, user-friendly navigation and a clean reading experience. • Search inside your current book or across your full library. • Select text to create notes or highlights from your mobile device. • Tap to open figures, view captions and pinch to zoom. • Sync your bookmarks, last page read and all of your notes and highlights between your iOS device and our desktop or web-based Elsevier eBooks apps. Requirements: • Elsevier eBooks account • Access to one or more Elsevier textbooks • iOS 17+

About

CTX SAFE

Features
Read full description

CTX SAFE is the official safety app of Concordia University Texas. It is the only app that integrates with Concordia University Texas's safety and security systems. Campus Police has worked to develop a unique app that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the Concordia University Texas campus. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources. CTX SAFE features include: - Mobile Bluelight: Send your location to Concordia University Texas security in real-time in case of a crisis - Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend, who can watch you walk home in real-time. - Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the Concordia University Texas area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern - Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to Concordia University Texas security. - Safety notifications: Receive instant notifications and instructions from campus safety when on-campus emergencies occur. - Emergency Plans: Learn what to do in case of an emergency - Chat with Security: Communicate live with safety staff at Concordia University Texas via chat. - Campus safety resources: access all important safety resources in one convenient app. Download today and ensure that you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

Screenshots

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource4 screens
CTX SAFE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource at every 3 months against CTX SAFE's every 20 months. CTX SAFE's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource ships an update every 3 months, CTX SAFE every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource versus CTX SAFE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElsevier eBooks on VitalSourceCTX SAFE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews16.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings9.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 20 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.69.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElsevier Inc.Concordia University Texas

Bugs and requests

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Repeated sentence/paragraph playback
  • Highlighted text disappearing across devices
  • Inability to download or access purchased books

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow handwritten notes and annotations
  • Improve page-turning and scrolling functionality
  • Enhance diagram and image viewing experience
  • Integrate seamless cross-device synchronization
  • Provide more customization options (e.g., font, layout)

CTX SAFE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource

No in-app purchases

None

CTX SAFE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource free?
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CTX SAFE free?
CTX SAFE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource or CTX SAFE have ads?
Neither Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource nor CTX SAFE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource or CTX SAFE?
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource ships an update every 3 months, and CTX SAFE every 20 months. Most recently, Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource was updated on November 11, 2026 and CTX SAFE on October 26, 2026.

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