# Compass UoS vs IELTS Practice Band 9

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Compass UoS at none against IELTS Practice Band 9's 6. Compass UoS also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). IELTS Practice Band 9's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (166 vs 1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IELTS Practice Band 9 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Compass UoS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Compass UoS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IELTS Practice Band 9 has 166 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Compass UoS ships an update every 5 months, IELTS Practice Band 9 every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass UoS | IELTS Practice Band 9 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-uos/id1370940070/reviews)** | [4.6 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ielts-practice-band-9/id1487374890/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **166** |
| Positive reviews | — | 84.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Engage2Serve](https://appshunter.io/developer/1246080767) | [Linh Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487374889) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass UoS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-uos/id1370940070)

This app provides University of Sunderland students with easy access to essential information and support services. Manage your profile, course details, appointments, and submit enquiries all from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** My Profile access, Course information viewing, Appointment management, FAQ search and rating, Enquiry submission and tracking, Feedback submission

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### IELTS Practice Band 9

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ielts-practice-band-9/id1487374890)

This AI-powered platform offers comprehensive IELTS preparation, including realistic practice tests and intelligent feedback for all four skills. Get personalized AI evaluations for speaking and writing, vocabulary and grammar resources, and daily learning notifications to help you achieve your target band score.

**Highlights:** AI Speaking Evaluation, AI Writing Evaluation, Realistic Practice Tests, Vocabulary & Grammar Lessons, Daily Vocabulary Notifications, Academic & General Training Support

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month Plan | $1.99 | per month |
| 3-Month Plan | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Year Plan | $17.99 | per year |
| Starter AI Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Exam Prep Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Plan | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Comprehensive IELTS preparation content
- 💰 Completely free with extensive features
- ✅ Easy to use and well-organized interface
- 🎯 Effective for improving exam scores
- 📖 Abundant practice tests and exercises

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes frequently
- ❌ Cannot open or launch on multiple devices
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iPhone models
- ⚠️ Inconsistent performance across sessions
- 🔤 Font size too small

**Reported bugs**

- App won't launch or open on iOS devices
- Error 404 preventing content access
- Writing Task 1 search function showing errors
- Premium version not unlocking after payment
- App crashing after 30 seconds of use

**Requested features**

- Search functionality to find specific topics
- Obvious close button for vocabulary details
- Better font size options
- Improved stability and performance optimization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass UoS free?

Compass UoS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IELTS Practice Band 9 free?

IELTS Practice Band 9 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Compass UoS or IELTS Practice Band 9?

Compass UoS is rated higher. Compass UoS averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while IELTS Practice Band 9 averages 4.6 from 166 ratings.

### Do Compass UoS or IELTS Practice Band 9 have ads?

IELTS Practice Band 9 shows ads; Compass UoS does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass UoS or IELTS Practice Band 9?

Compass UoS ships an update every 5 months, and IELTS Practice Band 9 every 4 days. Most recently, Compass UoS was updated on November 2, 2026 and IELTS Practice Band 9 on November 11, 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.*