# Blackboard vs Pratt Safe

The clearest difference is rating: Blackboard at 4.6 against Pratt Safe's 2.3. Blackboard also leads on ratings volume (445K vs 16) and chart position (#181 vs unranked). Pratt Safe's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, 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 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 445K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of Blackboard's written reviews are positive against 17% of Pratt Safe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Blackboard ships an update monthly, Pratt Safe every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | Pratt Safe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (445K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | [2.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pratt-safe/id1477075160/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **445K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 14.1% of reviews | **16.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#181** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [Pratt Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/777744864) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #181 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


### Pratt Safe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pratt-safe/id1477075160)

This app provides students, faculty, and staff with enhanced campus safety. It offers emergency contacts, real-time location sharing for safety alerts, and tools to report concerns directly to security.

**Highlights:** Emergency Contacts, Mobile Bluelight (real-time location), Friend Walk (location sharing), Tip Reporting, Virtual WalkHome (security monitoring), Safety Toolbox, Campus and Transit Maps, Emergency Plans

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is Pratt Safe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackboard or Pratt Safe?

Blackboard is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 445K ratings, while Pratt Safe averages 2.3 from 16 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or Pratt Safe have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor Pratt Safe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or Pratt Safe?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and Pratt Safe every 3 days. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on November 7, 2026 and Pratt Safe on November 3, 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.*