# MyState vs Top Hat

The clearest difference is rating: Top Hat at 4.6 against MyState's 2.9. Top Hat also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (23K vs 79). MyState's advantage is review sentiment (28% vs 15%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Top Hat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Top Hat has 23K ratings behind it against 79, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 28% of MyState's written reviews are positive against 15% of Top Hat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MyState ships an update every 3 months, Top Hat fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MyState | Top Hat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystate/id548641772/reviews) | **[4.6 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-hat-better-learning/id674069291/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 79 | **23K** |
| Positive reviews | **27.5% of reviews** | 14.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#182** |
| Size | 62 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iowa State University of Science and Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/433925044) | [Top Hat Monocle](https://appshunter.io/developer/411098284) |

## What reviewers say

### MyState

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystate/id548641772)

This app serves as a comprehensive student toolkit, offering essential information and features for navigating university life. It provides real-time updates on campus transportation, dining options, class schedules, and campus events. Students can also access a directory, library services, and campus maps to enhance their academic and social experience.

**Highlights:** Customizable dashboard, Class schedule and GPA calculator, Real-time bus arrival predictions, Dining hall hours and menus, Campus directory and map, Student organization discovery, Library catalog and account management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for class schedule
- 👍 Great app when student
- 👍 Contains all needed information
- 👍 Cool app
- 👍 Sleek design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bus tracker inaccurate
- 🐛 Class schedule issues
- 🐛 Dining hall hours inaccurate
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Bus tracker unreliable

**Reported bugs**

- Bus tracker estimates off by 10-15 minutes
- Bus tracker states no buses when there are
- App crashes when opening
- Class schedule issues persist
- Bus tracker not showing buses

**Requested features**

- Add support for alumni
- Third-party access for Ubill
- More accurate bus times
- Show all bus stops on map
- Add parking information


### Top Hat

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

**Currently charting:** #182 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 MyState free?

MyState 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, MyState or Top Hat?

Top Hat is rated higher. MyState averages 2.9 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Top Hat averages 4.6 from 23K ratings.

### Do MyState or Top Hat have ads?

Neither MyState nor Top Hat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MyState or Top Hat?

MyState ships an update every 3 months, and Top Hat fortnightly. Most recently, MyState was updated on October 8, 2026 and Top Hat on October 15, 2026.

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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.*