# Blackboard vs IE Connects

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 (#152 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | IE Connects |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (445K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | [4.4 (56 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ie-connects-join-the-network/id1538527285/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **445K** | 56 |
| Positive reviews | **14.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#152** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [Novalsys, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566688507) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #152 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


### IE Connects

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ie-connects-join-the-network/id1538527285)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is IE Connects free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackboard or IE Connects?

Blackboard is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 445K ratings, while IE Connects averages 4.4 from 56 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or IE Connects have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor IE Connects shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or IE Connects?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and IE Connects every 3 weeks. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on November 11, 2026 and IE Connects 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.*