# Canvas by Instructure vs Top Hat

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Canvas by Instructure at 2.8M against Top Hat's 23K. Canvas by Instructure also leads on chart position (#6 vs #189) and review sentiment (27% vs 14%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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 4.6 for Top Hat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 23K, 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 14% of Top Hat's.

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Top Hat fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Canvas by Instructure | Top Hat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488/reviews)** | [4.6 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-hat-better-learning/id674069291/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8M** | 23K |
| Positive reviews | **26.8% of reviews** | 14.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #189 |
| Size | 209 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) | [Top Hat Monocle](https://appshunter.io/developer/411098284) |

## What reviewers say

### Canvas by Instructure

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

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Education (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


### Top Hat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-hat-better-learning/id674069291)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Enhance your learning experience with interactive resources, in-class participation tools, and dynamic digital textbooks. Engage with professors and peers, and test your knowledge with quizzes and polls to improve comprehension and retention.

**Highlights:** Follow lecture slides on your device, In-class response system, In-app discussions with peers and professors, Dynamic, interactive digital textbooks, Take polls and quizzes, Access graded and non-graded homework

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive interface
- 👍 Useful for attendance and in-class quizzes
- 💡 Potential for interactive learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Answers not registering correctly
- Slides not loading properly on mobile devices
- Inconsistent performance across platforms

**Requested features**

- Add page numbers and search functionality to ebooks
- Improve syncing between mobile and web versions
- Allow more flexible location settings for attendance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Canvas by Instructure free?

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

### Is Top Hat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Top Hat?

Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while Top Hat averages 4.6 from 23K ratings.

### Do Canvas by Instructure or Top Hat have ads?

Neither Canvas by Instructure nor Top Hat shows ads.

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

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and Top Hat fortnightly. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on September 26, 2026 and Top Hat on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Top Hat?

Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and Top Hat at #189. 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.*