# iClicker Student vs Brightspace Pulse

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brightspace Pulse at none against iClicker Student's 8. Brightspace Pulse also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (36% vs 17%). On price, ads, chart position and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iClicker Student sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Brightspace Pulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brightspace Pulse holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brightspace Pulse has 263K ratings behind it against 37K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of iClicker Student's written reviews are positive against 36% of Brightspace Pulse's.

iClicker Student ships an update every 6 weeks, Brightspace Pulse every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iClicker Student | Brightspace Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iclicker-student/id899690067/reviews) | **[4.8 (263K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightspace-pulse/id1001688546/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 37K | **263K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.0% of reviews | **36.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #92 | **#67** |
| Size | 52 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HPHLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/395949292) | [D2L Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/422392651) |

## What reviewers say

### iClicker Student

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iclicker-student/id899690067)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Engage in class by answering instructor questions directly from your mobile device. Receive immediate feedback on your responses and compare your performance with classmates. Review past questions and answers to prepare for quizzes and exams, with all your data securely stored in the cloud.

**Highlights:** Answer instructor questions on mobile, Receive instant feedback, Compare responses to class results, Access saved poll questions for study, Cloud-based data storage, Supports multiple question types

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iClicker Pulse 6-Months | $5.99 | one-time |
| iClicker Pulse 1-Year | $8.99 | one-time |
| iClicker Pro 6-Months | $16.99 | one-time |
| iClicker 6-Month Subscription | $16.99 | one-time |
| iClicker Pro 6-Months | $25.99 | one-time |
| iClicker 1-year subscription | $25.99 | one-time |
| iClicker 2-Year Subscription | $36.99 | one-time |
| iClicker 4-Year Subscription | $51.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Saves money compared to physical iClicker
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Reliable and works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices/iPads

**Reported bugs**

- Logging out and back in causes data loss
- Location tracking not working properly
- Questions not appearing or disappearing during class
- Frequent disconnections and sign-out issues

**Requested features**

- Add push notifications for when questions are available
- Show correct answers after questions are answered
- Display countdown timer for questions
- Allow deleting of courses added accidentally
- Provide subscription options based on semester length


### Brightspace Pulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightspace-pulse/id1001688546)

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Stay connected with your courses on the go. Visualize upcoming deadlines, manage your time effectively, and receive real-time updates on course activities. Access course content offline and participate in discussions.

**Highlights:** Visualize upcoming dates and deadlines, Receive push notifications for course updates, Offline access to course content, Participate in Activity Feed discussions, Seamless browser login to D2L Brightspace, Apple Continuity support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Makes taking online courses easier
- 👍 Easy to access course content
- 👍 Convenient for studying on the go
- 🚀 Helpful for staying organized

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant log-out issues
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications and content loading
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🔍 Lacks key features like file downloads

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent log-out problems
- Inability to load course content
- Notifications not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Allow file downloads and exports
- Improve notification reliability
- Optimize for tablet/iPad use
- Add more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iClicker Student free?

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

### Is Brightspace Pulse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iClicker Student or Brightspace Pulse?

Brightspace Pulse is rated higher. iClicker Student averages 4.4 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Brightspace Pulse averages 4.8 from 263K ratings.

### Do iClicker Student or Brightspace Pulse have ads?

Neither iClicker Student nor Brightspace Pulse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iClicker Student or Brightspace Pulse?

iClicker Student ships an update every 6 weeks, and Brightspace Pulse every 2 weeks. Most recently, iClicker Student was updated on September 26, 2026 and Brightspace Pulse on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iClicker Student or Brightspace Pulse?

iClicker Student currently peaks at #92 in the App Store charts, and Brightspace Pulse at #67. 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.*