Comparison

Illinois vs Rift Student

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

Head to head
About

Illinois

Navigate the University of Illinois with this comprehensive digital companion. Access class schedules, your student ID, campus maps, and event information. Utilize an AI assistant for university-related questions and discover wellness resources.

Highlights
  • Customizable home screen
  • Class schedules and locations
  • Digital student ID and bus pass
  • AI-powered university assistant
  • Interactive campus maps with amenities
  • Campus event listings
  • Wellness resources
Read full description

Your digital companion to the University of Illinois, the Illinois app is for you, whether you’re a student, a Fighting Illini fan, an employee, or a first-time visitor. Features include: • A customizable home screen to make the app your own • Campus map with amenities like ADA entrances, all-gender restrooms, and lactation spaces • Class schedules, locations, and building floor plans • Illini ID, library card, and MTD bus pass • Digital business card • Wellness and safety resources, including SafeWalk requests and 24/7 crisis hotlines • Residence hall dining menus tailored to your food preferences • Groups: create or join one, or explore the official Illinois communities you’re already part of • University events, including Fighting Illini sports, Campus Recreation group fitness classes, arts, culture, and more Your quickest path to support is to report issues at https://go.illinois.edu/AppFeedback.

About

Rift Student

This app offers an alternative interface and enhanced features for Infinite Campus users. It includes grade checking, inbox access, and customizable views to help students manage their academic performance.

Highlights
  • Alternative Infinite Campus UI
  • Grade Checking
  • Inbox features
  • Quarterly Grade Checking
  • Weighted Grades View
  • Light & Dark Modes
Features
Read full description

Allows Infinite Campus® users to enjoy a different user interface and functions than the 1st party Infinite Campus® app. Use our checking feature to help you learn what you need to get to ace your classes. Additional Features include: - Grade Checking - Inbox features - Quarterly Grade Checking - Weighted Grades View - Light & Dark Modes and many, many more Rift is an independent software program and has not been authorized, endorsed, or otherwise approved by Infinite Campus, Inc. INFINITE CAMPUS® is a trademark of Infinite Campus, Inc. Look at https://riftapp.io/terms for our terms and conditions and trademark use.

Screenshots

Illinois4 screens
Rift Student4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Illinois at Free against Rift Student's $0.99. Illinois also leads on ratings volume (119 vs 35). Rift Student's advantage is rating (3.6 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (50% vs 11%). On update cadence, in-app purchases, 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

Illinois is free to download; Rift Student costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rift Student holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 119 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Illinois's written reviews are positive against 50% of Rift Student's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Illinois ships an update every 5 weeks, Rift Student every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Illinois versus Rift Student: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIllinoisRift Student
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating2.6 (119 ratings)3.6 (35 ratings) — better
Positive reviews10.6% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings119 — better35
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of IllinoisVarun Chitturi

Customer experience

Illinois

All ratings117 ratings
Positive39.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative56.4%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive10.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative84.8%

Rift Student

All ratings35 ratings
Positive62.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative31.4%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Illinois

No in-app purchases

None

Rift Student

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Illinois free?
Illinois is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rift Student free?
Rift Student costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Illinois or Rift Student?
Rift Student is rated higher. Illinois averages 2.6 out of 5 from 119 ratings, while Rift Student averages 3.6 from 35 ratings.
Do Illinois or Rift Student have ads?
Illinois shows ads; Rift Student does not.
Which is updated more often, Illinois or Rift Student?
Illinois ships an update every 5 weeks, and Rift Student every 2 months. Most recently, Illinois was updated on October 24, 2026 and Rift Student on October 13, 2026.

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