Comparison

Canvas by Instructure vs iClicker Student

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

Canvas by Instructure4 screens
iClicker Student4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iClicker Student sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Canvas by Instructure asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, iClicker Student every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Canvas by Instructure versus iClicker Student: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanvas by InstructureiClicker Student
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better4.4 (37K ratings)
Positive reviews26.8% of reviews — better17.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.8M — better37K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#4 — better#29
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB52 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperInstructure Inc.HPHLP

Customer experience

Canvas by Instructure

All ratings2,768,036 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,465 reviews
Positive26.8%
Neutral12.1%
Negative61.2%

iClicker Student

All ratings36,904 ratings
Positive85.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews182 reviews
Positive17.0%
Neutral4.9%
Negative78.0%

User reviews

Canvas by Instructure

From 2.8M App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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

None

Canvas by Instructure

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

iClicker Student

One-time8
  • iClicker Pulse 6-Months$5.99
  • iClicker Pulse 1-Year$8.99
  • iClicker Pro 6-Months$16.99
Show 5 more
  • 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?
Canvas by Instructure is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iClicker Student free?
iClicker Student is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while iClicker Student averages 4.4 from 37K ratings.
Do Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student have ads?
Neither Canvas by Instructure nor iClicker Student shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and iClicker Student every 6 weeks. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on September 25, 2026 and iClicker Student on September 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or iClicker Student?
Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and iClicker Student at #29. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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