# Blackboard vs iPolyU

The clearest difference is rating: iPolyU at 5.0 against Blackboard's 4.6. Blackboard's advantage is ratings volume (443K vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). 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.

iPolyU holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Blackboard ships an update monthly, iPolyU every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | iPolyU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (443K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipolyu/id1569160526/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **443K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 14.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#85** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [The Hong Kong Polytechnic University](https://appshunter.io/developer/442903588) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #85 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


### iPolyU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipolyu/id1569160526)

Stay updated with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's latest news, events, and publications. Access campus information, including dining options and maps, all from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Latest news and developments, University newsletter and magazine, Upcoming events calendar, Video channel, Campus eatery information, Campus navigation map, Useful contact directory

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is iPolyU free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackboard or iPolyU?

iPolyU is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 443K ratings, while iPolyU averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or iPolyU have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor iPolyU shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or iPolyU?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and iPolyU every 4 months. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on September 28, 2026 and iPolyU on September 10, 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.*