# Hope Chicago vs UIC Connection

The clearest difference is rating: Hope Chicago at 4.7 against UIC Connection's 3.0. Hope Chicago also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). UIC Connection's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Hope Chicago holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 10 respectively.

Hope Chicago ships an update weekly, UIC Connection every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hope Chicago | UIC Connection |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hope-chicago/id6449198265/reviews)** | [3.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uic-connection/id6744154766/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **23** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 150 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hope Chicago, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688030379) | [University of Illinois at Chicago](https://appshunter.io/developer/903164824) |

## What reviewers say

### Hope Chicago

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hope-chicago/id6449198265)

This platform supports students on their postsecondary journey, connecting them with resources, training, and a community to help them succeed in college and beyond. It provides access to scholarship materials, direct communication with support teams, and valuable information on financial aid, mental health, and academic success.

**Highlights:** Access scholarship materials, Connect with support teams, Discover campus activities, Financial aid and literacy resources, Mental health and academic support, Connect with other scholars, Event and deadline notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### UIC Connection

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uic-connection/id6744154766)

This app serves as an online campus hub for University of Illinois Chicago students, faculty, and staff. It provides access to campus events, student organizations, academic departments, and essential resources to support student success. Users can manage their involvement, track academic progress, and earn recognition.

**Highlights:** Event calendar integration, Student organization management, Event registration and check-in, Service hour tracking, Co-Curricular Leadership Certificate application, User profile updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hope Chicago free?

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

### Is UIC Connection free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hope Chicago or UIC Connection?

Hope Chicago is rated higher. Hope Chicago averages 4.7 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while UIC Connection averages 3.0 from 10 ratings.

### Do Hope Chicago or UIC Connection have ads?

Neither Hope Chicago nor UIC Connection shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hope Chicago or UIC Connection?

Hope Chicago ships an update weekly, and UIC Connection every 4 weeks. Most recently, Hope Chicago was updated on September 24, 2026 and UIC Connection on September 18, 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.*