Canvas by Instructure vs Common App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Canvas by Instructure
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.
- 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
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Your learning, anywhere. Stay connected to your courses with the official Canvas app for learners. Whether you’re in class, commuting, or offline, Canvas helps you stay organized and engaged. Note for instructors: For teaching and grading features, use the Canvas Teacher app. What you can do • Organize: View grades, track assignments, homework, and schoolwork; get reminders, push notifications and add customizable widgets for quick access • Engage: Send messages, join class discussions and collaborate with classmates in real time • Learn: Submit assignments, PDFs, docs, and media files for teachers to annotate in SpeedGrader, take quizzes, and watch videos on the go • Offline: Download full courses and keep studying even without internet • Integration & inclusivity: Use integrated classroom tools (LTIs), enjoy dark mode, and rely on built-in accessibility for everyone (VPAT 2.2 compliant) • Lifelong learning: Support for continuous learning, career-focused skill based learning programs, and AI-powered learning experience via Career experience Trusted by over 40 million learners worldwide.
Common App
Manage your college applications on the go. This app offers a secure and streamlined way to apply to over 1000 colleges, research financial aid options, and access guidance from counselors, all from your mobile device.
- Apply to 1000+ colleges
- Research financial aid
- Get counselor advice
- Secure application process
- Mobile convenience
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Simplify your college application experience with Common App for mobile. Common App for mobile provides you with the same secure, streamlined application experience you’ve come to expect from Common App online, all from the convenience of your mobile device. The app seamlessly integrates with the first-year desktop experience — allowing you to apply to more than 1000 colleges, research financial aid, and get advice from counselors. Common App for mobile is free and easy to use. Download the app to navigate your entire college application journey.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Canvas by Instructure at 4.7 against Common App's 3.0. Canvas by Instructure also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (2.8M vs 673). Common App's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). 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
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 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 673, 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 23% of Common App's.
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Common App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Canvas by Instructure | Common App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better | 3.0 (673 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 26.5% of reviews — better | 22.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.8M — better | 673 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | #41 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 216 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Instructure Inc. | The Common Application |
Customer experience
Canvas by Instructure
Common App
User reviews
Canvas by Instructure
From 2.8M App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 📚 Easy access to course materials
- 💻 Convenient mobile access
- 📊 Helpful grade tracking
- 🔔 Useful notification system
Room to improve
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Resets when switching apps
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 🙈 Lack of customization options
- 🗓️ Calendar issues
Common App
From 673 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient mobile app
- 👍 Same functionality as website
- 🎉 Finally available as an app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Requires re-login every time
- 🚫 Doesn't work for transfer students
Bugs and requests
Canvas by Instructure
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Improved discussion board functionality
- Ability to edit posts/comments
- Integration with personal calendars
- More granular notification controls
Common App
Reported bugs
3 issues- White screen on login
- App doesn't load past logo
- Redirects transfer students to website
Requested features
3 requests- Keep user logged in for longer
- Increase text box size
- Add back button navigation
In-app purchases
Canvas by Instructure
No in-app purchases
Common App
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Is Common App free?
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Common App?
Do Canvas by Instructure or Common App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Common App?
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Common App?
Other comparisons
