# NIU vs Hope Chicago

The clearest difference is rating: Hope Chicago at 4.7 against NIU's 2.9. Hope Chicago also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). NIU's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Hope Chicago holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 23 respectively.

NIU ships an update every 5 months, Hope Chicago weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIU | Hope Chicago |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu/id439798389/reviews) | **[4.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hope-chicago/id6449198265/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **23** |
| Positive reviews | 71.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 137 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Northern Illinois University](https://appshunter.io/developer/439798392) | [Hope Chicago, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688030379) |

## What reviewers say

### NIU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu/id439798389)

Access essential campus information, including event schedules, tech support, and residence hall updates. Find emergency contacts, navigate with campus maps, and connect through social media.

**Highlights:** Campus resource links, Event calendars, Tech guides, Laundry machine status, Emergency information, Campus maps, Social media integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hope Chicago

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hope-chicago/id6449198265)

This platform supports students on their postsecondary journey, offering resources, training, and community connections to help them achieve their academic and career goals debt-free. It provides access to scholarship materials, direct communication with support teams, and valuable information on financial aid, mental health, and academic success.

**Highlights:** Access scholarship materials, Real-time team connection, Campus activity information, Connect with programmatic partners, Financial aid and literacy resources, Mental health and academic advice, Student community network, Event and deadline notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NIU free?

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

### Is Hope Chicago free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NIU or Hope Chicago?

Hope Chicago is rated higher. NIU averages 2.9 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Hope Chicago averages 4.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do NIU or Hope Chicago have ads?

Neither NIU nor Hope Chicago shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NIU or Hope Chicago?

NIU ships an update every 5 months, and Hope Chicago weekly. Most recently, NIU was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hope Chicago on November 7, 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.*