Blackboard vs Common App
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
Common App
Manage your college applications on the go. This app offers a secure and streamlined way to apply to over 1000 colleges, research financial aid options, and access guidance from counselors, all from your mobile device.
- Apply to 1000+ colleges
- Research financial aid
- Get counselor advice
- Secure application process
- Mobile convenience
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Simplify your college application experience with Common App for mobile. Common App for mobile provides you with the same secure, streamlined application experience you’ve come to expect from Common App online, all from the convenience of your mobile device. The app seamlessly integrates with the first-year desktop experience — allowing you to apply to more than 1000 colleges, research financial aid, and get advice from counselors. Common App for mobile is free and easy to use. Download the app to navigate your entire college application journey.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Blackboard at 4.6 against Common App's 3.0. Blackboard also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (443K vs 673). Common App's advantage is review sentiment (23% vs 14%) and chart position (#24 vs #72). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Blackboard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 673, 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 Common App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Blackboard ships an update monthly, Common App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blackboard | Common App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (443K ratings) — better | 3.0 (673 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 22.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 443K — better | 673 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #72 | #24 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Anthology Inc. | The Common Application |
Customer experience
Blackboard
Common App
User reviews
Blackboard
From 443K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Common App
From 673 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient mobile app
- 👍 Same functionality as website
- 🎉 Finally available as an app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Requires re-login every time
- 🚫 Doesn't work for transfer students
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
Common App
Reported bugs
3 issues- White screen on login
- App doesn't load past logo
- Redirects transfer students to website
Requested features
3 requests- Keep user logged in for longer
- Increase text box size
- Add back button navigation
In-app purchases
Blackboard
No in-app purchases
Common App
No in-app purchases
