# Hallam Uni vs Beacon

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

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

Hallam Uni ships an update every 3 months, Beacon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hallam Uni | 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 | 18.8% of reviews | **21.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 13 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sheffield Hallam University](https://appshunter.io/developer/415936272) | [University of Staffordshire](https://appshunter.io/developer/1157433122) |

## What reviewers say

### Hallam Uni

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hallam-uni/id415936269)

Manage your university life with this app. Access your timetable, Blackboard, and important notifications all in one place. Get support, track assignments, and find campus resources.

**Highlights:** View timetable and class schedules, Access Blackboard for assignments and grades, Receive important notifications and news, Log attendance via Study Goal, Access student emails and library resources, Campus maps and directions, Book rooms and study equipment

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for new students
- 👍 Helpful links to student support
- 👍 Access to careers central
- 👍 Good for freshers (maps, contacts, schedules, mail, library, PCs, FAQs)
- 👍 Saves time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Slow and clunky
- 👎 Features not integrated
- 👎 Requires multiple logins
- 👎 Pointless compared to SHUBetter
- 👎 Weak clone of SHUBetter

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Constant sign-in prompts
- Cannot access emails
- Remember me option not working
- App crashes

**Requested features**

- SHUBetter alternative
- Better user experience
- Better UI
- Integrated features
- Single sign-on


### 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 Hallam Uni free?

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

### Is Beacon free?

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

### Do Hallam Uni or Beacon have ads?

Beacon shows ads; Hallam Uni does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hallam Uni or Beacon?

Hallam Uni ships an update every 3 months, and Beacon every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hallam Uni was updated on October 15, 2026 and Beacon on October 12, 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.*