# XuetangX vs 极客时间

The clearest difference is rating: XuetangX at 4.7 against 极客时间's 3.9. XuetangX also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). 极客时间's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XuetangX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and 极客时间 sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

XuetangX holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 292 and 324 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of XuetangX's written reviews are positive against 59% of 极客时间's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

XuetangX ships an update every 6 weeks, 极客时间 every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XuetangX | 极客时间 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (292 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xuetangx/id911639256/reviews)** | [3.9 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1280245865/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 292 | **324** |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | **58.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 262 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [北京慕华信息科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/911639259) | [The Holding of GeekBang (Beijing) Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1038372718) |

## What reviewers say

### XuetangX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xuetangx/id911639256)

Access world-class online courses and earn accredited degrees from top universities. This platform offers systematic curriculum design and practical skill training with industry partners for career advancement and lifelong learning.

**Highlights:** Courses from 600+ top universities, Earn accredited degrees and certifications, Job entry preparation with practical training, Networking with industrial partners, Systematic curriculum design, Lifelong learning platform

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1元课程的商品 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50元课程的商品 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 60元课程的商品 | $8.99 | one-time |
| 198元课程的商品 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 238元课程的商品 | $35.99 | one-time |
| 298元课程的商品 | $46.99 | one-time |
| 308元课程的商品 | $47.99 | one-time |
| 388元课程的商品 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 488元课程的商品 | $74.99 | one-time |
| 698元课程的商品 | $109.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Excellent free courses
- 🎓 High-quality university content
- 💡 Great platform for self-study
- 🌟 Good for lifelong learning
- 👍 Helpful for补课 (making up for missed courses)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 📉 Unstable performance
- 🐌 Slow loading and lagging
- ⚫ Black screen issues
- ❌ Registration difficulties

**Reported bugs**

- Videos do not play, showing a black screen
- Registration is impossible due to symbol input restrictions
- Subjective questions are not graded
- App crashes frequently
- App is unstable, with frequent crashes and login issues

**Requested features**

- Add English social and philosophy courses
- Improve iPad version with horizontal mode
- Allow background download and resume
- Add lock screen control for audio playback
- Add option to close screen and listen to audio


### 极客时间

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1280245865)

This platform offers advanced AI learning paths, covering everything from foundational algorithms to large model principles and practical AIGC applications. It also provides a comprehensive technical learning experience for developers with expert-led courses, real-world case studies, and community features.

**Highlights:** AI learning paths, Expert-led technical courses, Real-world enterprise case studies, 18 technical growth routes, Audio and video learning, Learning community, Training camps

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6G币充值 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10G币充值 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 12G币充值 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 38G币充值 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 68G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 78G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 79G币充值 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 108G币充值 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 98G币充值 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 218G币充值 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 308G币充值 | $44.99 | one-time |
| 518G币充值 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 1598G币充值 | $229.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Great learning content
- 🚀 Productive app
- 🤩 Excellent app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 🌙 Lack of dark mode
- 🤯 Frustrating to use

**Reported bugs**

- Purchased courses not accessible
- Inconsistent login behavior
- Playback issues (progress reset, no background play)

**Requested features**

- Page-level search
- Offline mode for content
- Improved navigation and playback controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XuetangX free?

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

### Is 极客时间 free?

极客时间 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, XuetangX or 极客时间?

XuetangX is rated higher. XuetangX averages 4.7 out of 5 from 292 ratings, while 极客时间 averages 3.9 from 324 ratings.

### Do XuetangX or 极客时间 have ads?

极客时间 shows ads; XuetangX does not.

### Which is updated more often, XuetangX or 极客时间?

XuetangX ships an update every 6 weeks, and 极客时间 every 4 weeks. Most recently, XuetangX was updated on October 19, 2026 and 极客时间 on October 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.*