# Canvas by Instructure vs PowerSchool Mobile

Canvas by Instructure and PowerSchool Mobile both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 44% of PowerSchool Mobile's written reviews are positive against 27% of Canvas by Instructure's. PowerSchool Mobile also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 PowerSchool Mobile. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.8M and 942K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Canvas by Instructure's written reviews are positive against 44% of PowerSchool Mobile's.

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, PowerSchool Mobile monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Canvas by Instructure | PowerSchool Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488/reviews)** | [4.6 (942K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerschool-mobile/id973741088/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8M** | 942K |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **44.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | #15 |
| Size | 216 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) | [PowerSchool Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1057394489) |

## What reviewers say

### Canvas by Instructure

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

**Currently charting:** #9 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


### PowerSchool Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerschool-mobile/id973741088)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Access real-time student information like grades, assignments, and attendance with an updated interface. Features customizable dashboards, calendar views for assignments, and notification management for parents, guardians, and students.

**Highlights:** Real-time student data access, Updated user interface and dashboard, Customizable dashboard widgets, Class assignment calendar view, Push and email notifications, Student profile management

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to access grades and assignments
- 👍 Convenient for parents to monitor student progress
- ⏰ Timely notifications of grade updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent sync issues and glitches
- 🕰️ Slow app performance and loading times
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data usage
- 📚 Incomplete or outdated information on the app

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent display of grades and assignments
- Password reset issues and login problems
- Crashes and app freezes

**Requested features**

- Ability to view grade history and trends
- Integration with other school platforms
- Customizable notification settings
- Improved user interface and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Canvas by Instructure free?

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

### Is PowerSchool Mobile free?

PowerSchool Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or PowerSchool Mobile?

Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while PowerSchool Mobile averages 4.6 from 942K ratings.

### Do Canvas by Instructure or PowerSchool Mobile have ads?

Neither Canvas by Instructure nor PowerSchool Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or PowerSchool Mobile?

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and PowerSchool Mobile monthly. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on October 30, 2026 and PowerSchool Mobile on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or PowerSchool Mobile?

Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #9 in the App Store charts, and PowerSchool Mobile at #15. 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.*