# Blackboard vs Syllabest

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Syllabest at 100% against Blackboard's 14%. Syllabest also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Blackboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (444K vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Syllabest sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Blackboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Syllabest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 444K ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Syllabest's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | Syllabest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (444K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syllabest/id6472703014/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **444K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 14.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#89** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [Coeptis LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1717560497) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #89 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


### Syllabest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syllabest/id6472703014)

Organize all your academic deadlines in one place and connect with classmates. This app aims to support your success throughout your college journey.

**Highlights:** Organize due dates, Communicate with peers, Navigate college experience, Ad-free experience with subscription, Automatic subscription renewal

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackboard free?

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

### Is Syllabest free?

Syllabest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Syllabest is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 444K ratings, while Syllabest averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or Syllabest have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor Syllabest shows ads.

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

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and Syllabest monthly. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on October 22, 2026 and Syllabest on October 7, 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.*