# Blackboard vs UoL Citizen

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Blackboard at 14% against UoL Citizen's 0%. Blackboard also leads on chart position (#82 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Blackboard ships an update monthly, UoL Citizen every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | UoL Citizen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (444K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **444K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **14.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#82** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [University of Leicester](https://appshunter.io/developer/561566271) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

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

**Currently charting:** #82 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


### UoL Citizen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uol-citizen/id6747341475)

This university companion app helps students and staff stay organized and informed. Access your timetable, track attendance, find campus locations, and get quick answers from a smart chatbot. It's your central hub for managing university life.

**Highlights:** Personalized timetable, Attendance tracking, Campus maps and directions, Library resource management, Smart chatbot for quick answers, University news and events, Personal tutor information

**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 UoL Citizen free?

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

### Do Blackboard or UoL Citizen have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor UoL Citizen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or UoL Citizen?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and UoL Citizen every 6 weeks. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on October 21, 2026 and UoL Citizen on October 12, 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.*