Canvas by Instructure vs Prin 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.
Prin App
This app connects you to your college community, keeping you updated on events, classes, and deadlines. Access campus resources and connect with peers anytime.
- Campus event updates
- Class and assignment tracking
- Notifications for important dates
- Campus resource access
- Peer-to-peer connection
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Stay connected to everything happening at Principia College with the Prin App. Get real-time updates on campus events, academic deadlines, and student life all in one place designed for the Principia community. Whether you're checking the dining hall menu, RSVPing to a campus event, following your favorite student organizations, or catching up on news and announcements, Prin App keeps you plugged in wherever you are.
Screenshots
Verdict
Canvas by Instructure and Prin App both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Prin App's written reviews are positive against 27% of Canvas by Instructure's. Canvas by Instructure's advantage is ratings volume (2.8M vs 32) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Canvas by Instructure against 4.8 for Prin App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Canvas by Instructure's written reviews are positive against 100% of Prin App's.
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Prin App every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Canvas by Instructure | Prin App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.8M ratings) | 4.8 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.8M — better | 32 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 216 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Instructure Inc. | The Principia Corporation |
Customer experience
Canvas by Instructure
Prin App
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
Prin App
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Canvas by Instructure
No in-app purchases
Prin App
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Is Prin App free?
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Prin App?
Do Canvas by Instructure or Prin App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Prin App?
Other comparisons
