# Top Hat vs VandySafe

The clearest difference is rating: Top Hat at 4.6 against VandySafe's 3.7. Top Hat also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (23K vs 20). VandySafe's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 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 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Top Hat has 23K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Top Hat ships an update every 2 weeks, VandySafe every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Top Hat | VandySafe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-hat-better-learning/id674069291/reviews)** | [3.7 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vandysafe/id1427815416/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **23K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 14.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#201** | — |
| Size | 152 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Top Hat Monocle](https://appshunter.io/developer/411098284) | [Vanderbilt University](https://appshunter.io/developer/353785823) |

## What reviewers say

### Top Hat

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

**Currently charting:** #201 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


### VandySafe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vandysafe/id1427815416)

This app provides Vanderbilt University students, faculty, and staff with enhanced safety features. It offers real-time location sharing, emergency contact options, tip reporting, and safety alerts. Access campus maps, crime data, and emergency plans for a secure campus experience.

**Highlights:** Mobile Bluelight for real-time location sharing, Emergency and non-emergency contact options, Direct safety/security tip reporting, Instant safety notifications and instructions, Emergency preparedness plans, Live chat with campus security, Campus maps and crime mapping

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Top Hat free?

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

### Is VandySafe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Top Hat or VandySafe?

Top Hat is rated higher. Top Hat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 23K ratings, while VandySafe averages 3.7 from 20 ratings.

### Do Top Hat or VandySafe have ads?

Neither Top Hat nor VandySafe shows ads.

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

Top Hat ships an update every 2 weeks, and VandySafe every 9 months. Most recently, Top Hat was updated on October 23, 2026 and VandySafe on October 16, 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.*