# Blackboard vs Common App

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.

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 October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | Common App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (443K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | [3.0 (673 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **443K** | 673 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **22.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #72 | **#24** |
| Size | 172 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [The Common Application](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030434052) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #72 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


### Common App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Apply to 1000+ colleges, Research financial aid, Get counselor advice, Secure application process, Mobile convenience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient mobile app
- 👍 Same functionality as website
- 🎉 Finally available as an app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Requires re-login every time
- 🚫 Doesn't work for transfer students

**Reported bugs**

- White screen on login
- App doesn't load past logo
- Redirects transfer students to website

**Requested features**

- Keep user logged in for longer
- Increase text box size
- Add back button navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is Common App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackboard or Common App?

Blackboard is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 443K ratings, while Common App averages 3.0 from 673 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or Common App have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor Common App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or Common App?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and Common App every 9 months. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on September 30, 2026 and Common App on October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Blackboard or Common App?

Blackboard currently peaks at #72 in the App Store charts, and Common App at #24. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*