Blackboard vs NU Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Course updates and announcements
- Assignment submission and testing
- Grade tracking
- Discussion board management
- Material organization
- Real-time notifications
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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
NU Connect
This app serves as a comprehensive resource for university students, providing access to important messages, academic timetables, campus maps, and event listings. It also offers features for finding campus facilities, booking open day tours, and exploring student union activities.
- University messages and notifications
- Class and exam timetables
- Campus maps and location finder
- Event listings and open day booking
- Student Union information
- PC/Mac availability and accommodation tours
- Campus travel information
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NU Connect - your on-the-go companion for various Northumbria resources and services. Messages: Receive important messages from Northumbria University and push notifications on your Ask4Help Online enquiries. Essential Info: Check important information before you arrive at Northumbria University, including a checklist of enrolment actions you need to complete when you arrive, and your Student Conduct documentation. My Learning: Access class and exam timetables with times and locations. View and record absences. Quick access to Blackboard and the University Library. Maps: Find your way around City, Coach Lane, London and Amsterdam campuses. Locate buildings, halls, services and facilities. What’s On: Discover what’s happening on campus, including upcoming Careers Fairs and events. Undergraduate Open Days: Book up, find your way here, and tour the campus. View sessions and build up your own personalised schedule for the day. Students’ Union: Learn more about what’s going on at the SU, including information on Freshers’ Week, Societies, Gigs & Live Music, Academic Advice, and more. Finder: Search for available PCs and Macs across campus, along with available software. Explore University Accommodation with 360° room tours in select locations. Connect and stay safe on campus with Safezone. Travel: Get around via the free campus bus, view times and estimated walking times while on campus. Note: On login you must use 'studentid' within the email and not name and email. For example: student id 'w24123456' -> login email is used as follows: w24123456@northumbria.ac.uk
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Blackboard at 443K against NU Connect's 67. Blackboard also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and chart position (#81 vs unranked). NU Connect's advantage is review sentiment (25% vs 14%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Blackboard against 4.7 for NU Connect. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 67, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 14% of Blackboard's written reviews are positive against 25% of NU Connect's.
Blackboard ships an update monthly, NU Connect every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | Blackboard | NU Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (443K ratings) | 4.7 (67 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.2% of reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 443K — better | 67 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #81 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 225 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Anthology Inc. | Northumbria University |
Customer experience
Blackboard
NU Connect
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
NU Connect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Blackboard
No in-app purchases
NU Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Blackboard free?
Is NU Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Blackboard or NU Connect?
Do Blackboard or NU Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blackboard or NU Connect?
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