# Google Classroom vs Elphinstone

The clearest difference is rating: Google Classroom at 2.1 against Elphinstone's 1.0. Google Classroom also leads on ratings volume (37K vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Elphinstone's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 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.

Google Classroom holds the better App Store score, 2.1 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Classroom has 37K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Google Classroom's written reviews are positive against 14% of Elphinstone's.

Google Classroom ships an update fortnightly, Elphinstone every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Classroom | Elphinstone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-classroom/id924620788/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elphinstone/id1189629401/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **26.1% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 202 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [School District No. 46](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460689913) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Classroom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-classroom/id924620788)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app streamlines educational workflows for teachers and students. It facilitates paperless assignment creation, distribution, and grading, while enhancing communication and organization. Students can track assignments and receive feedback, and teachers can manage classes and provide real-time updates.

**Highlights:** Paperless assignment creation and grading, Automatic document copying for students, Organized Drive folders for assignments, Real-time feedback and grades, Instant announcements and class discussions, Mobile access for on-the-go management

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Helpful for organizing assignments
- 💡 Useful for online/remote learning
- 🤝 Good for student-teacher communication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable at times
- ⏱️ Slow loading and performance issues
- 📧 Excessive and delayed notifications
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Assignments disappearing or not properly syncing
- Inability to edit or update assignments after posting
- Inconsistent behavior across devices and platforms

**Requested features**

- Add a dark mode option
- Improve notification control and customization
- Implement a better missing assignments/to-do list
- Allow more flexibility in class organization and archiving


### Elphinstone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elphinstone/id1189629401)

Stay informed with the official mobile app for Elphinstone Secondary School. Receive timely updates on school closures, events, and important news directly from teachers and the school administration. Access calendars, resources, and contact information conveniently.

**Highlights:** Subscribe to teacher and school updates, Up-to-date event calendars, Push notifications for important news, Access school resources, Contact school via email/phone/navigation, Share school events

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Classroom free?

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

### Is Elphinstone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Google Classroom or Elphinstone?

Google Classroom is rated higher. Google Classroom averages 2.1 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Elphinstone averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Google Classroom or Elphinstone have ads?

Neither Google Classroom nor Elphinstone shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Classroom or Elphinstone?

Google Classroom ships an update fortnightly, and Elphinstone every 2 months. Most recently, Google Classroom was updated on October 17, 2026 and Elphinstone 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.*