# MasterClass vs The Book Academy

MasterClass and The Book Academy both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of The Book Academy's written reviews are positive against 29% of MasterClass's. The Book Academy also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). MasterClass's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (123K vs 43). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MasterClass sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $119.99 per year. The Book Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for MasterClass against 4.9 for The Book Academy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MasterClass has 123K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of MasterClass's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Book Academy's.

MasterClass ships an update every 3 weeks, The Book Academy weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MasterClass | The Book Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (123K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterclass-online-classes/id1273867416/reviews) | **[4.9 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-book-academy/id6740010700/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **123K** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | 28.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 128 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [MasterClass](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273867415) | [Awe Luv LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507016112) |

## What reviewers say

### MasterClass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterclass-online-classes/id1273867416)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Learn new skills from world-renowned experts across a vast range of subjects. Access thousands of bite-sized lessons on professional development, creative arts, wellness, and more. Watch on any device, with offline options available.

**Highlights:** Learn from world-renowned experts, Vast range of premium courses, Thousands of bite-sized lessons, Accessible on multiple devices, Offline learning options, New content added regularly

**Features:** SharePlay

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MasterClass Individual | $119.99 | per year |
| Duo (Free Upgrade) | $179.99 | per year |
| All-Access Pass upgrade | $179.99 | per year |
| MasterClass Duo | $179.99 | per year |
| Family (Free Upgrade) | $239.99 | per year |
| MasterClass Family | $239.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content from experts
- 🤩 Inspiring and educational
- 👍 High-quality production
- 💡 Diverse range of topics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔌 Unreliable offline support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Downloaded content disappears
- Playback issues and random pauses
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to download more content offline
- Progress tracking and resume functionality
- Filtering and sorting options
- Transcript search and note-taking


### The Book Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-book-academy/id6740010700)

This app guides aspiring and experienced writers through the entire book creation process, from initial ideas to marketing. It offers expert advice, training, and a supportive community to help users write, publish, and promote their books with confidence.

**Highlights:** Expert guidance from bestselling authors, Step-by-step book creation training, Marketing tactics for bestseller status, Community support and networking, Progress tracking and accountability, Actionable strategies and industry insights

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MasterClass free?

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

### Is The Book Academy free?

The Book Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MasterClass or The Book Academy?

The Book Academy is rated higher. MasterClass averages 4.9 out of 5 from 123K ratings, while The Book Academy averages 4.9 from 43 ratings.

### Do MasterClass or The Book Academy have ads?

The Book Academy shows ads; MasterClass does not.

### Which is updated more often, MasterClass or The Book Academy?

MasterClass ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Book Academy weekly. Most recently, MasterClass was updated on November 3, 2026 and The Book Academy on October 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.*