Blackboard vs IE Connects
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
IE Connects
This app facilitates networking and community engagement for students and alumni. Users can discover clubs, register for events, connect with peers, find job opportunities, and access a marketplace for buying and selling within the community.
- Find clubs by interest and region
- Register for events with reminders
- Network with students and alumni
- Access exclusive job opportunities
- Buy/sell/rent within the community
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Connect with the IE Community on-the-go! IE Connects allows for IE students and alumni to expand their network, join worldwide events, enjoy campus life experiences, and much more. - By downloading the app, you’ll have access to: - Clubs: find clubs based on your interests and region - Events: easy registration and reminders from organizers - Directory: networking on-the-go with students and alumni - Career Portal: Find exclusive job opportunities - Marketplace: Find opportunities to buy/sell/rent within the IE community
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Blackboard at 445K against IE Connects's 56. Blackboard also leads on review sentiment (14% vs 0%) and chart position (#156 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 445K ratings behind it against 56, 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 0% of IE Connects's.
Blackboard ships an update monthly, IE Connects every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blackboard | IE Connects |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (445K ratings) — better | 4.4 (56 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 14.1% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 445K — better | 56 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #156 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 78 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Anthology Inc. | Novalsys, Inc |
Customer experience
Blackboard
IE Connects
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
IE Connects
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Blackboard
No in-app purchases
IE Connects
No in-app purchases
