Canvas by Instructure vs iClicker Student
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.
iClicker Student
Engage in class by answering instructor questions directly from your mobile device. Receive immediate feedback on your responses and compare your performance with classmates. Review past questions and answers to prepare for quizzes and exams, with all your data securely stored in the cloud.
- Answer instructor questions on mobile
- Receive instant feedback
- Compare responses to class results
- Access saved poll questions for study
- Cloud-based data storage
- Supports multiple question types
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iClicker's student app allows you to answer questions using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Tap to provide your answer and receive instant feedback. Compare your vote to the rest of the class. After class, access the saved poll questions to study for a quiz or exam. All data is stored on the cloud so you can access it anywhere from any device. KEY FEATURES: • Free trial subscription with account creation • View your instructor’s questions as high resolution screenshots • Compare your response to the class results • Session history is stored in the cloud so you can access it anywhere • Multiple Choice, Short Answer, Numeric, and Target question types • Receive correct/incorrect feedback when your instructor grades the question • Review the questions and answers to study after class • Works alongside all iClicker remotes
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Canvas by Instructure at none against iClicker Student's 8. Canvas by Instructure also leads on ratings volume (2.8M vs 37K) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). iClicker Student's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support 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. iClicker Student sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Canvas by Instructure asks for nothing beyond the download.
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 37K, 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 17% of iClicker Student's.
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, iClicker Student every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Canvas by Instructure | iClicker Student |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better | 4.4 (37K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 26.8% of reviews — better | 17.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.8M — better | 37K |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #4 — better | #29 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Instructure Inc. | HPHLP |
Customer experience
Canvas by Instructure
iClicker Student
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
iClicker Student
From 37K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Saves money compared to physical iClicker
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Reliable and works well
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices/iPads
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
iClicker Student
Reported bugs
4 issues- Logging out and back in causes data loss
- Location tracking not working properly
- Questions not appearing or disappearing during class
- Frequent disconnections and sign-out issues
Requested features
5 requests- Add push notifications for when questions are available
- Show correct answers after questions are answered
- Display countdown timer for questions
- Allow deleting of courses added accidentally
- Provide subscription options based on semester length
In-app purchases
Canvas by Instructure
No in-app purchases
iClicker Student
- iClicker Pulse 6-Months$5.99
- iClicker Pulse 1-Year$8.99
- iClicker Pro 6-Months$16.99
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- iClicker 6-Month Subscription$16.99
- iClicker Pro 6-Months$25.99
- iClicker 1-year subscription$25.99
- iClicker 2-Year Subscription$36.99
- iClicker 4-Year Subscription$51.99
Questions
Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Is iClicker Student free?
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
Do Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student have ads?
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
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