Comparison

Encode vs Courses by The Institutes

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

Head to head
About

Encode

Learn to code with interactive, bite-sized lessons designed for busy schedules. Master popular languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL through hands-on exercises and challenges. Ideal for beginners, this app makes coding accessible and fun, offering certificates upon completion.

Highlights
  • Bite-sized interactive lessons
  • Hands-on coding exercises
  • Learn Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL
  • Built-in code playground
  • Daily motivation streaks and hearts
  • Certificates of completion
Features
Read full description

Start coding today with short, interactive lessons! Learn Python, SQL, HTML/CSS, JavaScript (and more) at your own pace. Encode makes learning to code easy! Bite-Sized Learning: Fit coding into your busy life with effective lessons you can complete in just 15 minutes daily. Hands-On Coding: Write REAL code from lesson one! Our interactive quizzes, coding exercises, and challenges build practical, real-world skills. Master In-Demand Languages: Learn Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, & SQL. Plus, explore mini-courses in R, Swift, Java, & the Command Line. Practice Anywhere: Our built-in playground for coding means no setup headaches. Experiment, test, and write code on the go. Learning Made Fun: Daily streaks and hearts keep you motivated. Coding feels like a game, not a chore! Perfect for Absolute Beginners: No coding experience needed! Encode guides you step-by-step, demystifying complex concepts. Build Real-World Skills: Prepare to build websites, automate tasks, analyze data, or launch your tech career. Earn Your Certificate: Showcase your new coding skills with a personalized certificate of completion. Join thousands learning to code with Encode. Visit https://upskew.com/privacy for our Privacy Policy and https://upskew.com/tos for our Terms of Use. Illustrations by Ouch (https://icons8.com/ouch). Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you at support@upskew.com.

About

Courses by The Institutes

Access audio versions of your enrolled course material and practice exam questions on your mobile device. This companion app extends your learning experience for on-the-go review and AI-powered feedback.

Highlights
  • Audio course content
  • Exam practice questions
  • AI-powered explanations
  • Offline audio downloads
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Progress syncing
Features
Read full description

The Institutes Mobile Companion App This app provides enrolled students of The Institutes with mobile access to their course content through audio learning and exam practice. If you're currently taking courses through The Institutes' online platform or through your company's learning management system, this companion app extends your learning experience to your mobile device. Audio Learning for Mobile Access audio versions of your enrolled course content, optimized for on-the-go learning. The audio narration allows you to review course material during commutes, exercise, or other activities where reading isn't practical. Important Note About Audio Content: The audio in this app is designed as a supplementary learning tool and has been optimized for mobile listening. Students should continue to access the full online course platform for comprehensive exam preparation, particularly for visual content such as videos, images, and interactive materials that may be covered in assessments. Exam Practice Questions Practice questions from the web platform are available in the mobile app, featuring: - Multiple question formats including multiple choice, short answer, and interactive exercises - AI-powered explanations using official Institutes course content - Content drawn exclusively from your enrolled courses Available Course Content The app currently supports 31+ courses across major designations including CPCU, AIC, AINS, ARM, AU, ARe, and AIDA. Content availability corresponds to your course enrollment through The Institutes. Mobile Features - Offline audio downloads for learning without internet connection - Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 2x) - Sleep timer functionality - Bookmarks and personal notes - Light and dark mode display options - Multiple exam practice question sets featuring hundreds of questions - AI-powered feedback to help understand incorrect answers and reinforce correct concepts Access and Sign-In Students sign in using their Institutes credentials. For students accessing courses through their company's Learning Management System (LMS), corporate email authentication is also supported. Progress, bookmarks, and notes sync across your devices when connected to the internet.

Screenshots

Encode4 screens
Courses by The Institutes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Encode at 4.8 against Courses by The Institutes's 3.0. Encode also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 50%) and ratings volume (6.4K vs 6). Courses by The Institutes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Encode sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Courses by The Institutes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Encode holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Encode has 6.4K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Encode's written reviews are positive against 50% of Courses by The Institutes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encode ships an update every 2 weeks, Courses by The Institutes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Encode versus Courses by The Institutes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncodeCourses by The Institutes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6.4K ratings) — better3.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews88.8% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6.4K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUpskew Pty. Ltd.The Institutes

Customer experience

Encode

All ratings6,375 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews250 reviews
Positive88.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative6.4%

Courses by The Institutes

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Encode

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect grammar/spelling in some lessons
  • Inability to input answers in certain lessons
  • Lesson content not always matching what's asked

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more coding languages like C++, C#, and Lua
  • Implement progress sync across devices
  • Provide more interactive coding exercises
  • Include audio/voice guidance for lessons

Courses by The Institutes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Encode

Subscriptions2
  • Encode Plus (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Encode Plus (Annual)$39.991 Year
None

Courses by The Institutes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Encode free?
Encode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Courses by The Institutes free?
Courses by The Institutes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Encode or Courses by The Institutes?
Encode is rated higher. Encode averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6.4K ratings, while Courses by The Institutes averages 3.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Encode or Courses by The Institutes have ads?
Encode shows ads; Courses by The Institutes does not.
Which is updated more often, Encode or Courses by The Institutes?
Encode ships an update every 2 weeks, and Courses by The Institutes every 3 days. Most recently, Encode was updated on October 14, 2026 and Courses by The Institutes on October 1, 2026.

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