# Canvas by Instructure vs Canvas Parent

The clearest difference is rating: Canvas by Instructure at 4.7 against Canvas Parent's 4.4. Canvas by Instructure also leads on review sentiment (27% vs 9%) and ratings volume (2.8M vs 112K). On price, update cadence, 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.

Canvas by Instructure holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 112K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Canvas by Instructure's written reviews are positive against 9% of Canvas Parent's.

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Canvas Parent monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Canvas by Instructure | Canvas Parent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488/reviews)** | [4.4 (112K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-parent/id1097996698/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8M** | 112K |
| Positive reviews | **26.8% of reviews** | 9.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #135 |
| Size | 209 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) |

## What reviewers say

### Canvas by Instructure

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Education, #157 Top Free (US App Store)

Access your courses and stay organized with this learning app. Track assignments, submit work, participate in discussions, and even study offline. It supports integrated tools and accessibility features for a seamless educational experience.

**Highlights:** View grades and track assignments, Submit assignments and take quizzes, Join class discussions, Download courses for offline access, Receive push notifications and reminders, Integrated classroom tools and dark mode

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 📚 Easy access to course materials
- 💻 Convenient mobile access
- 📊 Helpful grade tracking
- 🔔 Useful notification system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Resets when switching apps
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 🙈 Lack of customization options
- 🗓️ Calendar issues

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and crashing
- Inability to view all course content
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Unreliable assignment submission
- Syncing issues between app and website

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved discussion board functionality
- Ability to edit posts/comments
- Integration with personal calendars
- More granular notification controls


### Canvas Parent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-parent/id1097996698)

**Currently charting:** #135 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app allows parents and guardians to monitor their child's academic progress, communicate with teachers, and receive important updates. It helps families stay involved in their student's education by tracking grades, assignments, and feedback.

**Highlights:** Message teachers directly, View grades and assignments, Receive real-time notifications, See teacher feedback, Use calendar view for upcoming tasks

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient for tracking assignments and grades
- 👍 Allows communication with teachers
- 🤖 Useful for remote/virtual learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🤯 Confusing and not user-friendly
- 🔍 Lack of visibility into student work and progress
- 🔀 Inconsistent implementation across teachers and schools
- 🤖 Struggles with remote/virtual learning needs

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent log-out issues
- Inability to access account or find school
- Delayed or inaccurate display of assignment statuses and grades
- Calendar view and other key features not functioning as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to view submitted assignments and teacher feedback
- Better organization and sorting of assignments by due date
- Improved communication and coordination between parents, students, and teachers
- More consistent and intuitive user experience across the platform


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Canvas by Instructure free?

Canvas by Instructure is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Canvas Parent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Canvas Parent?

Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while Canvas Parent averages 4.4 from 112K ratings.

### Do Canvas by Instructure or Canvas Parent have ads?

Neither Canvas by Instructure nor Canvas Parent shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Canvas Parent?

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and Canvas Parent monthly. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on September 24, 2026 and Canvas Parent on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Canvas Parent?

Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Canvas Parent at #135. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*