# Top Hat vs Blackboard

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Blackboard at 443K against Top Hat's 23K. Blackboard also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Top Hat against 4.6 for Blackboard. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 23K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 14% and 14% positive.

Top Hat ships an update fortnightly, Blackboard monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Top Hat | Blackboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-hat-better-learning/id674069291/reviews) | [4.6 (443K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 23K | **443K** |
| Positive reviews | **14.4% of reviews** | 14.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #129 | **#81** |
| Size | 162 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Top Hat Monocle](https://appshunter.io/developer/411098284) | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) |

## What reviewers say

### Top Hat

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

**Currently charting:** #129 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


### Blackboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app connects students and instructors to their institution's learning management system. Access course materials, submit assignments, track grades, and communicate with peers and instructors on the go.

**Highlights:** Course updates and announcements, Assignment submission and testing, Grade tracking, Discussion board management, Material organization, Real-time notifications

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure login process
- 💡 Helpful for busy students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Constant need to re-login
- 🕰️ Slow loading times
- 📱 Not optimized for mobile/tablets

**Reported bugs**

- Activity stream not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior across mobile and web
- Inability to view full assignment details

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize course order
- Improved notifications and alerts
- Split-screen functionality for multitasking
- Offline access to course materials


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Top Hat free?

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

### Is Blackboard free?

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

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

Top Hat and Blackboard are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 23K and 443K ratings respectively.

### Do Top Hat or Blackboard have ads?

Neither Top Hat nor Blackboard shows ads.

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

Top Hat ships an update fortnightly, and Blackboard monthly. Most recently, Top Hat was updated on September 24, 2026 and Blackboard on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Top Hat or Blackboard?

Top Hat currently peaks at #129 in the App Store charts, and Blackboard at #81. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*