Comparison

Bookshelf vs DeVry University

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

Head to head
About

Bookshelf

Access and study your digital textbooks on your iPad or iPhone. This app allows for offline reading, note-taking, flashcard creation, and customizable reading settings. Sync your progress across devices for a seamless study experience.

Highlights
  • Offline reading
  • Customizable highlighters and notes
  • Flashcard creation
  • Personalized reading settings
  • Read Aloud feature
  • Cross-device syncing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

With Bookshelf, you can enjoy a digital-first, comprehensive study experience from the convenience of your iPad or iPhone. Access all of your VitalSource textbooks and study anytime, anywhere. Bookshelf Features: • Download books to your iOS device for 100% offline reading. • Customize highlighters and add notes for a rich study experience. • Create flashcards with text and images to learn concepts faster. • Personalize font, font size, and background colors to make reading easier. • Listen to your books and learn on the go with Read Aloud. • Sync your current reading position and all your work across devices so you can easily pick up where you left off. • Built with accessibility in mind. Requirements: • VitalSource Bookshelf account • Access to one or more VitalSource textbooks • iOS 17+

About

DeVry University

Access your courses, grades, financial information, and academic support on the go. This app allows students to participate in coursework, stay connected with instructors and classmates, and manage their education from anywhere.

Highlights
  • Access courses and grades
  • Manage student finances
  • Connect with instructors and advisors
  • Utilize eBooks for reading
  • Access 24/7 support services
  • Receive notifications and reminders
Read full description

We know you’re on-the-go – and now your education is, too. Through our mobile app, students of both DeVry University and Keller Graduate School of Management can access their courses, grades, financial information, academic support and more. This complimentary app helps you participate in your coursework and stay connected to your classmates, when and where you want. Manage School From Anywhere • Stay connected with your instructors and advisors • Easy access to your schedule and academic progress • Manage your student finances and make payments Learn On-the-Go • Check-in on your class progress, assignments and grades in a secure environment • Quick-and-easy access to discussion posts, course work, and feedback from professors* • Utilize your eBooks to catch up on reading on-the-go Student Outreach and Support Services • Stay connected to your Student Support and Career Advisors for guidance and assistance • Access 24/7 support services, such as tutoring and library resources¹ • Join our Community by GetSet to find motivation and peer support Personalized Material and Messaging • Receive Advisor and Professor notifications and reminders • Review student finance updates and take action • Access to in-app email, course announcements and University notifications *DeVry recommends using a personal laptop with administrative privileges to install Office 365 and other specialized software required for select courses. Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones will allow some course work to be completed but may not be able to accommodate all academic technologies. ¹Each student is allotted a set number of hours of tutoring per academic session through www.tutor.com (available 24/7). Additional tutoring services are also available through www.DevryTutors.com

Screenshots

Bookshelf4 screens
DeVry University4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Bookshelf at 78K against DeVry University's 3. Bookshelf also leads on chart position (#74 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). DeVry University's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DeVry University holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshelf has 78K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 27% of DeVry University's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookshelf ships an update every 6 weeks, DeVry University every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Bookshelf versus DeVry University: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookshelfDeVry University
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (78K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.4% of reviews27.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings78K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#74 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB29 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperVitalSource Technologies, Inc.DeVry University

Customer experience

Bookshelf

All ratings78,432 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews538 reviews
Positive21.4%
Neutral16.0%
Negative62.6%

DeVry University

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews89 reviews
Positive27.0%
Neutral11.2%
Negative61.8%

Bugs and requests

Bookshelf

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Issues with page loading and scrolling
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
  • Unreliable text-to-speech functionality

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved highlighting and annotation tools
  • Apple Pencil support for note-taking
  • More customization options (e.g., font, layout, night mode)
  • Seamless cross-device synchronization
  • Enhanced search and navigation features

DeVry University

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Bookshelf

No in-app purchases

None

DeVry University

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bookshelf free?
Bookshelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DeVry University free?
DeVry University is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bookshelf or DeVry University?
DeVry University is rated higher. Bookshelf averages 4.7 out of 5 from 78K ratings, while DeVry University averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Bookshelf or DeVry University have ads?
Neither Bookshelf nor DeVry University shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bookshelf or DeVry University?
Bookshelf ships an update every 6 weeks, and DeVry University every 3 months. Most recently, Bookshelf was updated on September 24, 2026 and DeVry University on September 21, 2026.

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