# IELTS vs Band 9

The clearest difference is update cadence: Band 9 at every 9 days against IELTS's every 3 months. IELTS's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IELTS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Band 9 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for IELTS against 5.0 for Band 9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

IELTS ships an update every 3 months, Band 9 every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IELTS | Band 9 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ielts-learning-and-practice/id6467131777/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-9/id6473836786/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 41 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ea Hang Khov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703171105) | [Steven Grace](https://appshunter.io/developer/375932674) |

## What reviewers say

### IELTS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ielts-learning-and-practice/id6467131777)

Prepare for IELTS Academic and General Training exams with comprehensive practice materials for reading, writing, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar. Improve your English skills step-by-step anytime, anywhere to build confidence for the official test.

**Highlights:** IELTS Reading practice, IELTS Writing practice, IELTS Speaking practice, Vocabulary builder, Grammar review, Writing expressions, Academic & General Training modules

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $29.99 | per year |


### Band 9

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-9/id6473836786)

Master the IELTS Speaking test with detailed, examiner-level feedback on 18 criteria. Practice unlimited mock tests, receive instant scores and corrections, and track your progress to achieve a Band 7+ score.

**Highlights:** Examiner-level feedback on 18 criteria, Unlimited mock tests, Instant band score and detailed corrections, Progress tracking, 150+ Part 2 topic questions, 30+ proven strategies

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Band 9 Plus | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Band 9 Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Band 9 Plus | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Starter | $6.99 | one-time |
| Top Up 900 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Booster | $8.99 | one-time |
| Top Up 2000 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Ace | $24.99 | one-time |
| Top Up 12000 | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IELTS free?

IELTS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Band 9 free?

Band 9 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IELTS or Band 9?

IELTS and Band 9 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do IELTS or Band 9 have ads?

Neither IELTS nor Band 9 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IELTS or Band 9?

IELTS ships an update every 3 months, and Band 9 every 9 days. Most recently, IELTS was updated on November 3, 2026 and Band 9 on November 4, 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.*