# iBCU vs Beacon

The clearest difference is ads: iBCU at none against Beacon's shown. iBCU also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and review sentiment (30% vs 21%). Beacon's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iBCU ships an update every 6 weeks, Beacon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iBCU | Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-digital-guide/id1435526583/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | **29.7% of reviews** | 21.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 338 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Birmingham City University](https://appshunter.io/developer/346172757) | [University of Staffordshire](https://appshunter.io/developer/1157433122) |

## What reviewers say

### iBCU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibcu/id375319801)

This app provides real-time information for university staff, students, and guests. It helps users stay organized with daily schedules, campus navigation, and important news and events. Access campus maps, find available PCs, and manage your contacts.

**Highlights:** Daily schedule overview, Campus timetable, News and events feed, Campus maps and navigation, PC availability finder, Personalized contact directory

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-digital-guide/id1435526583)

This app serves as a comprehensive digital guide for student life, offering features like timetable viewing, campus navigation, and access to university services. It helps students find contact information, check resource availability, and stay updated on news and events.

**Highlights:** View timetable, Campus maps and points of interest, Staff and service contact details, PC availability checks, News and events browsing, Societies and clubs search, Answers to common service questions

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iBCU free?

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

### Is Beacon free?

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

### Do iBCU or Beacon have ads?

Beacon shows ads; iBCU does not.

### Which is updated more often, iBCU or Beacon?

iBCU ships an update every 6 weeks, and Beacon every 3 weeks. Most recently, iBCU was updated on September 27, 2026 and Beacon on September 23, 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.*