Comparison

Blackboard vs Coursicle

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Blackboard

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
Currently charting
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Download the Blackboard App and stay seamlessly connected with your courses and elevate your learning experience. Whether you're a student or an instructor, this app integrates with your institution’s Blackboard platform to bring you essential tools and real-time updates on the go. For Students: - Stay Informed: Instantly view updates and changes to your courses. - Real-Time Alerts: Receive notifications for due-dates, announcements, and more. - Manage Coursework: Easily complete and submit assignments, take tests, and track your progress. - Check Grades: Access grades for courses, assignments, and tests with just a few taps. - Plus More: Explore additional features tailored to enhance your educational journey. For Instructors: - Efficient Course Management: Upload and organize course materials and assessments effortlessly. - Timely Notifications: Set up custom alerts such as when submissions are ready for grading, messages from students, and more. - Streamlined Grading: Grade assignments and provide feedback from your phone or tablet. - Engage Students: Send course announcements, create and manage discussion threads, and interact with student comments. - And Beyond: Utilize more tools designed to support your teaching and engagement. Please Note: The Blackboard App functions in conjunction with your institution’s Blackboard server. Access and features may vary based on your institution's settings and software updates. By using this app, you agree to our terms and privacy information - https://www.anthology.com/trust-center/terms-of-use

About

Coursicle

This academic planner helps college students organize their coursework. It syncs with major learning platforms, provides timely reminders for assignments and classes, and offers features like professor reviews and backup schedule creation.

Highlights
  • Syncs with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle
  • Assignment and class reminders
  • Class seat opening notifications
  • Professor reviews
  • Schedule building and backup schedules
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Coursicle is an all-in-one academic planner: • Sync and color code assignments from Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace D2L, Moodle, and more • Get reminders of upcoming classes and about all of your assignments, quizzes, projects, and exams • Get notified when classes have open seats • Read reviews of your professors • Build your schedule and create backup schedules for class registration Millions of students use Coursicle to manage classes, track assignments, and plan ahead. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy: coursicle.com/terms/

Screenshots

Blackboard4 screens
Coursicle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Blackboard at none against Coursicle's 17. Blackboard also leads on ratings volume (444K vs 780). Coursicle's advantage is review sentiment (38% vs 14%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, rating, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Coursicle sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Blackboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Coursicle holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 444K ratings behind it against 780, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Blackboard's written reviews are positive against 38% of Coursicle's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blackboard ships an update monthly, Coursicle every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Blackboard versus Coursicle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlackboardCoursicle
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (444K ratings)4.8 (780 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.1% of reviews38.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings444K — better780
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#94 — better#170
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnthology Inc.Coursicle, Inc.

Customer experience

Blackboard

All ratings442,980 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral4.0%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews2,064 reviews
Positive14.1%
Neutral13.4%
Negative72.4%

Coursicle

All ratings749 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews242 reviews
Positive38.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative53.7%

User reviews

Blackboard

From 444K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Coursicle

From 780 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helpful for getting into classes
  • 🚀 Notifications about class openings
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Great customer service

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive premium subscription
  • 🐛 Delayed or inaccurate notifications
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔒 No account system to sync across devices

Bugs and requests

Blackboard

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Coursicle

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Classes shown as open when they are actually full
  • App crashes or freezes when trying to add classes
  • Referral system not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to track classes for multiple semesters
  • More customizable notification settings
  • Schedule planning and visualization tools
  • Support for summer courses

In-app purchases

None

Blackboard

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Coursicle

Subscriptions2
  • Coursicle Premium$4.991 Month
  • Coursicle Premium$29.991 Year
One-time4
  • Premium4 variants$4.99
  • Premium8 variants$6.99
  • Premium2 variants$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Coursicle Premium$99.99

Questions

Is Blackboard free?
Blackboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Coursicle free?
Coursicle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Blackboard or Coursicle?
Coursicle is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 444K ratings, while Coursicle averages 4.8 from 780 ratings.
Do Blackboard or Coursicle have ads?
Neither Blackboard nor Coursicle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blackboard or Coursicle?
Blackboard ships an update monthly, and Coursicle every 9 days. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on October 21, 2026 and Coursicle on October 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Blackboard or Coursicle?
Blackboard currently peaks at #94 in the App Store charts, and Coursicle at #170. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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