# Blackboard vs SCAD

The clearest difference is rating: Blackboard at 4.6 against SCAD's 2.5. Blackboard also leads on ratings volume (443K vs 12) and chart position (#82 vs unranked). SCAD's advantage is review sentiment (23% vs 14%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Blackboard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of Blackboard's written reviews are positive against 23% of SCAD's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Blackboard ships an update monthly, SCAD every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | SCAD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (443K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | [2.5 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scad/id1059477031/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **443K** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 14.2% of reviews | **22.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#82** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [Savannah College of Art and Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/467515093) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861)

**Currently charting:** #82 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app connects students and instructors to their institution's learning management system. Access course materials, submit assignments, track grades, and communicate with peers and instructors on the go.

**Highlights:** Course updates and announcements, Assignment submission and testing, Grade tracking, Discussion board management, Material organization, Real-time notifications

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure login process
- 💡 Helpful for busy students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Constant need to re-login
- 🕰️ Slow loading times
- 📱 Not optimized for mobile/tablets

**Reported bugs**

- Activity stream not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior across mobile and web
- Inability to view full assignment details

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize course order
- Improved notifications and alerts
- Split-screen functionality for multitasking
- Offline access to course materials


### SCAD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scad/id1059477031)

This app provides access to university information, including academic programs, campus details, and events. Students can log in to access personalized schedules, grades, course registration, and campus resources.

**Highlights:** Academic program information, Campus locations and events, Virtual tours, Personalized class schedule, Course registration, Interactive campus maps, Blackboard access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is SCAD free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackboard or SCAD?

Blackboard is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 443K ratings, while SCAD averages 2.5 from 12 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or SCAD have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor SCAD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or SCAD?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and SCAD every 5 weeks. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on September 25, 2026 and SCAD on September 17, 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.*