# Simplilearn vs BrightLocal Academy

The clearest difference is rating: Simplilearn at 4.3 against BrightLocal Academy's 3.0. Simplilearn also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 4). BrightLocal Academy's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (67% vs 42%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplilearn sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and BrightLocal Academy sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simplilearn holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplilearn has 1.1K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of Simplilearn's written reviews are positive against 67% of BrightLocal Academy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simplilearn ships an update monthly, BrightLocal Academy every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplilearn | BrightLocal Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplilearn-online-learning/id963042747/reviews)** | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlocal-academy/id1600920628/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 42.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 115 MB | 104 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Simplilearn Americas LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/963042746) | [BrightLocal Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600920630) |

## What reviewers say

### Simplilearn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplilearn-online-learning/id963042747)

This platform offers a vast array of online courses and certifications in digital skills, designed to boost your career. Learn from industry experts through live classes, hands-on projects, and personalized recommendations. Access free courses and gain valuable skills at your own pace.

**Highlights:** Over 400 certificate courses, Live classes and webinars, Expert trainers, Hands-on capstone projects, Free courses and certificates, Personalized course recommendations, Daily quizzes and prizes

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PMP Basics Cert | $14.99 | one-time |
| Introduction to SQL - Cert | $14.99 | one-time |
| Six Sigma - Certificate | $14.99 | one-time |
| Business Intelligence - Cert | $14.99 | one-time |
| PMP Training - Certificate | $14.99 | one-time |
| All-in-One Java Development Suite | $89.99 | one-time |
| Financial Modeling with MS Excel Foundation & Advanced | $99.99 | one-time |
| Microsoft®  Excel 2013 Foundation | $149.99 | one-time |
| Certification of Competency in Business AnalysisTM(CCBA®) Certification | $199.99 | one-time |
| PMP Certification Training | $249.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great learning platform
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 💡 Helpful courses
- 🚀 Convenient mobile learning
- 👍 Good content quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 🔇 Audio/video issues
- 🤖 Poor customer service
- 💰 Expensive courses
- 🚫 Misleading marketing

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Incomplete course progress tracking
- Unresponsive search functionality
- Compatibility issues on older devices
- Inability to download/access certificates

**Requested features**

- Add captions and subtitles for accessibility
- Improve course progress tracking across devices
- Provide more language options
- Enhance mobile app functionality to match web version


### BrightLocal Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightlocal-academy/id1600920628)

Master local SEO with interactive courses, videos, and quizzes. Learn to boost rankings, increase search traffic, and improve visibility for yourself or your agency. Earn certificates to enhance your professional profile.

**Highlights:** Interactive video lessons, Jump between modules, Progress quizzes, Certificates and badges, Local SEO topic coverage, Google Business Profile optimization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Your First Local SEO Client | Free | one-time |
| Create Local SEO Reports | Free | one-time |
| Level Up Your Local SEO | Free | one-time |
| Local SEO Audits: Businesses | Free | one-time |
| Google Business Management 101 | Free | one-time |
| Master Local Keyword Research | Free | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplilearn free?

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

### Is BrightLocal Academy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simplilearn or BrightLocal Academy?

Simplilearn is rated higher. Simplilearn averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while BrightLocal Academy averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Simplilearn or BrightLocal Academy have ads?

Neither Simplilearn nor BrightLocal Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplilearn or BrightLocal Academy?

Simplilearn ships an update monthly, and BrightLocal Academy every 6 weeks. Most recently, Simplilearn was updated on October 21, 2026 and BrightLocal Academy on October 11, 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.*