# edX online learning vs Saylor Academy

edX online learning and Saylor Academy both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of edX online learning's written reviews are positive against 43% of Saylor Academy's. edX online learning also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (11K vs 51). Saylor Academy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 213) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. edX online learning sells 42 one-off in-app purchases. Saylor Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for edX online learning against 4.6 for Saylor Academy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: edX online learning has 11K ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of edX online learning's written reviews are positive against 43% of Saylor Academy's.

edX online learning ships an update every 5 weeks, Saylor Academy every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | edX online learning | Saylor Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edx-online-learning/id945480667/reviews)** | [4.6 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saylor-academy/id1481507148/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 51 |
| Positive reviews | **81.9% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 56 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [edX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700453712) | [The Constitution Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481507147) |

## What reviewers say

### edX online learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edx-online-learning/id945480667)

Access thousands of online courses and degree programs from top universities and companies. Upskill in critical disciplines, strengthen your resume, and advance your career on your own schedule. Stream content, download materials, and test your knowledge with quizzes and exams.

**Highlights:** Thousands of courses and programs, World-class academic and industry partners, Career skill development, Professional certificate programs, Degree programs, Stream online courses, Download course materials

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

**In-app purchases (42)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Course | $5.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $10.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $19.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $20.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $25.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $26.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $29.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $30.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $39.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $45.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $49.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $50.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $54.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $55.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $59.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $60.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $69.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $79.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $99.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $100.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $105.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $119.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $123.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $124.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $129.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $149.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $150.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $159.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $169.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $186.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $189.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $199.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $200.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $209.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $219.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $229.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $249.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $299.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $300.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $349.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $449.00 | one-time |
| Upgrade Course | $829.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient learning on the go
- 💡 Wide variety of courses
- 🌟 High-quality content from renowned institutions
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 🔍 Lack of progress tracking
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate courses
- 🔍 Inconsistent user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not playing or freezing
- Frequent app crashes or refreshes
- Login issues and loss of course progress
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Improved progress tracking and bookmarking
- Split-screen support for note-taking
- Offline mode for all course content
- Better search and filtering options
- Seamless sync between app and website


### Saylor Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saylor-academy/id1481507148)

Access free college-level courses and work towards a degree at your own pace. Download course materials for offline study, track your grades, and receive important notifications directly on your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Browse courses on the go, Download materials for offline access, Check your grades, Receive course notifications, Work toward a degree

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is edX online learning free?

edX online learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Saylor Academy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, edX online learning or Saylor Academy?

edX online learning is rated higher. edX online learning averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Saylor Academy averages 4.6 from 51 ratings.

### Do edX online learning or Saylor Academy have ads?

Neither edX online learning nor Saylor Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, edX online learning or Saylor Academy?

edX online learning ships an update every 5 weeks, and Saylor Academy every 9 months. Most recently, edX online learning was updated on October 25, 2026 and Saylor Academy on October 24, 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.*