# edX online learning vs GetSmarter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GetSmarter at none against edX online learning's 213. edX online learning's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 58%) and ratings volume (11K vs 1K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for edX online learning against 4.8 for GetSmarter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: edX online learning has 11K ratings behind it against 1K, 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 58% of GetSmarter's.

edX online learning ships an update every 5 weeks, GetSmarter every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | edX online learning | GetSmarter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edx-online-learning/id945480667/reviews) | [4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/getsmarter/id1558163839/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 57.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 56 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [edX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700453712) | [GetSmarter Online Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450621974) |

## 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


### GetSmarter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/getsmarter/id1558163839)

Access your online campus and course materials from anywhere. Engage with course content, participate in discussions, submit assignments, and track your academic progress and grades on the go.

**Highlights:** Access course content anytime, Participate in quizzes and forums, Submit assignments, Track deadlines, Receive instant notifications, View grades and track progress

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Engaging and interactive learning experience
- 💡 Helpful for learning on the go
- 👍 Well-structured course with great support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login and authentication issues
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🕰️ Significant time lag between app and website

**Reported bugs**

- Error connecting to server
- File picker not working properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to take notes within the app
- Sync progress between app and website
- Improved discussion thread navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is edX online learning free?

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

### Is GetSmarter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, edX online learning or GetSmarter?

edX online learning and GetSmarter are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 11K and 1K ratings respectively.

### Do edX online learning or GetSmarter have ads?

Neither edX online learning nor GetSmarter shows ads.

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

edX online learning ships an update every 5 weeks, and GetSmarter every 6 weeks. Most recently, edX online learning was updated on October 17, 2026 and GetSmarter 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.*