# 极客时间 vs 光环

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 极客时间 at 59% against 光环's 0%. 极客时间 also leads on ratings volume (324 vs 3). 光环's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 极客时间 sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and 光环 sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

光环 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 极客时间 has 324 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of 极客时间's written reviews are positive against 0% of 光环's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

极客时间 ships an update every 4 weeks, 光环 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 极客时间 | 光环 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1280245865/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npdp/id1443281485/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **324** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **58.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 262 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Holding of GeekBang (Beijing) Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1038372718) | [Aura International Education Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1548890703) |

## What reviewers say

### 极客时间

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1280245865)

This platform offers advanced AI learning paths, covering everything from foundational algorithms to large model principles and practical AIGC applications. It also provides a comprehensive technical learning experience for developers with expert-led courses, real-world case studies, and community features.

**Highlights:** AI learning paths, Expert-led technical courses, Real-world enterprise case studies, 18 technical growth routes, Audio and video learning, Learning community, Training camps

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6G币充值 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10G币充值 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 12G币充值 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 38G币充值 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 68G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 78G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 79G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 108G币充值 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 98G币充值 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 218G币充值 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 308G币充值 | $44.99 | one-time |
| 518G币充值 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 1598G币充值 | $229.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Great learning content
- 🚀 Productive app
- 🤩 Excellent app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 🌙 Lack of dark mode
- 🤯 Frustrating to use

**Reported bugs**

- Purchased courses not accessible
- Inconsistent login behavior
- Playback issues (progress reset, no background play)

**Requested features**

- Page-level search
- Offline mode for content
- Improved navigation and playback controls


### 光环

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npdp/id1443281485)

This app offers a comprehensive online learning platform for aspiring innovators, featuring expert-led courses in project management, AI, and data science. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical case studies and community support to help users advance their careers.

**Highlights:** Expert-led courses, Project management certifications, AI and data science modules, Practical case studies, Community Q&A, Weekly updates

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 18光环币 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 68光环币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 108光环币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 188光环币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 698光环币 | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1198光环币 | $179.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 极客时间 free?

极客时间 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is 光环 free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 极客时间 or 光环?

光环 is rated higher. 极客时间 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 324 ratings, while 光环 averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do 极客时间 or 光环 have ads?

极客时间 shows ads; 光环 does not.

### Which is updated more often, 极客时间 or 光环?

极客时间 ships an update every 4 weeks, and 光环 monthly. Most recently, 极客时间 was updated on October 14, 2026 and 光环 on September 28, 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.*