# The Garden Guide vs Illinois

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Garden Guide at 64% against Illinois's 11%. The Garden Guide also leads on rating (3.6 vs 2.7) and ads (none vs shown). Illinois's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (118 vs 13). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

The Garden Guide holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Illinois has 118 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of The Garden Guide's written reviews are positive against 11% of Illinois's.

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, Illinois every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Garden Guide | Illinois |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679/reviews)** | [2.7 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois/id1476075513/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **118** |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 10.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 36 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chicago Horticultural Society](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) | [University of Illinois](https://appshunter.io/developer/422670617) |

## What reviewers say

### The Garden Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679)

Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden with this app. Discover plants, find your way around, and learn about the garden's features through tours and audio guides. It's a helpful companion for both visitors and home gardeners.

**Highlights:** Navigate 385 acres and 26 gardens, Discover plant information by name, color, or characteristics, Access walking tours and audio guides, Pin favorite locations, Track seasonal blooms, Personal garden docent

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Illinois

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illinois/id1476075513)

Navigate the University of Illinois with this comprehensive digital companion. Access class schedules, your student ID, campus maps, and event information. Utilize an AI assistant for university-related questions and discover wellness resources.

**Highlights:** Customizable home screen, Class schedules and locations, Digital student ID and bus pass, AI-powered university assistant, Interactive campus maps with amenities, Campus event listings, Wellness resources

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Garden Guide free?

The Garden Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Illinois free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Garden Guide or Illinois?

The Garden Guide is rated higher. The Garden Guide averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Illinois averages 2.7 from 118 ratings.

### Do The Garden Guide or Illinois have ads?

Illinois shows ads; The Garden Guide does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Garden Guide or Illinois?

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, and Illinois every 5 weeks. Most recently, The Garden Guide was updated on October 18, 2026 and Illinois on October 22, 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.*