# Piazza vs Illinois

The clearest difference is rating: Illinois at 2.7 against Piazza's 2.1. Piazza's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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.

Illinois holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 277 and 117 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of Piazza's written reviews are positive against 11% of Illinois's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Piazza ships an update fortnightly, Illinois every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Piazza | Illinois |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piazza/id453142230/reviews) | **[2.7 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois/id1476075513/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **277** | 117 |
| Positive reviews | **14.3% of reviews** | 10.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 3 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Piazza Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/453142233) | [University of Illinois](https://appshunter.io/developer/422670617) |

## What reviewers say

### Piazza

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piazza/id453142230)

This platform facilitates communication and learning for higher education. Students can ask and answer questions, while instructors can monitor student engagement. It provides real-time updates and a centralized space for class interactions.

**Highlights:** Ask and answer questions, Real-time updates, Centralized class communication, Student engagement monitoring, Mobile access for students and instructors

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app
- 🚀 Great for tracking classes
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Lacks key features from web version
- 🐛 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🔒 Login and authentication issues

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to post or reply
- Randomly logs out users
- Fails to load posts and resources
- Incompatible with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to access course materials
- Improved formatting and editing tools
- Better organization of posts and discussions
- Seamless integration with web version


### Illinois

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois/id1476075513)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Piazza free?

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

### Is Illinois free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Piazza or Illinois?

Illinois is rated higher. Piazza averages 2.1 out of 5 from 277 ratings, while Illinois averages 2.7 from 117 ratings.

### Do Piazza or Illinois have ads?

Illinois shows ads; Piazza does not.

### Which is updated more often, Piazza or Illinois?

Piazza ships an update fortnightly, and Illinois every 5 weeks. Most recently, Piazza was updated on September 21, 2026 and Illinois on September 15, 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.*