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Top Hat
Top Hat · Toronto, Ontario, Canada · founded 2009
What it is
Top Hat is a higher education platform for student engagement and courseware, supporting interactive learning in and beyond class. Educators can use live polls, discussions, quizzes, and instant feedback during lectures. For work outside class, it supports interactive homework and readings, customizable digital textbooks, and instructor-created materials. Instructors can create, schedule, or upload tests and assignments, and use AI tools to generate questions from course content. Ace helps educators prepare classes and create interactive prompts; students can use the assistant for personalized study and practice based on course materials. Top Hat turns attendance, participation, reading, and assessment data into insights about student progress. It lists integrations with Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Moodle, and Sakai. LTI 1.3 integrations for Canvas and D2L Brightspace can provide roster sync, grade sync, deep links, and single sign-on. Students can use a browser or iOS and Android apps. Access options include one four-month term for $35, paid once, 12 months for $58, paid once, or 48 months for $96, paid once. Eligible paid courses usually offer a five-day free trial.
For and against
For
- Supports live polls, quizzes, and discussions
- Offers interactive homework and digital textbooks
- AI tools can generate questions from course content
- Lists integrations with five learning management systems
- Available through web, iOS, and Android
Against
- Access pricing varies by term length
- Department and institution plans have custom pricing
- Free trials are limited to eligible paid courses
The verdict
Top Hat combines classroom engagement features with course materials, assessments, and student progress insights. Its listed student access options vary by duration, while department and institution pricing is custom.
Who it suits
Top Hat is designed for higher education students and educators, with tailored plans for departments and institutions. It may suit courses that combine live class participation with digital coursework and assessments.
Plans and prices
1 Term
Student access for one 4-month term
Read 19 Sep 2026 · tophat.com
1 Year
Student access for 12 months
Read 19 Sep 2026 · tophat.com
4 Years
Student access for 48 months
Read 19 Sep 2026 · tophat.com
Department or Institution-Wide
Custom pricing
Read 19 Sep 2026 · tophat.com
1 Term (4 months)
Student access
Read 7 Oct 2026 · tophat.com
1 Year (12 months)
Student access
Read 7 Oct 2026 · tophat.com
4 Years (48 months)
Student access
Read 7 Oct 2026 · tophat.com
Department or Institution-Wide Solutions
Tailored department or institution-wide plans
Read 7 Oct 2026 · tophat.com
On the record
- Access and trial
- Students can use Top Hat in a browser or its iOS and Android apps, and eligible paid courses usually offer a five-day free trial.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- AI assistant
- Ace helps educators prepare classes and create interactive prompts, and gives students 24/7 personalized study and practice support based on course materials.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Assessments
- Instructors can create, schedule, or upload tests and assignments, and use AI tools to generate questions from course content.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Top Hat is designed for higher education, with tailored plans available for departments and institutions.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Course content
- The platform supports interactive homework and readings, customizable digital textbooks, and instructor-created materials.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Live Q&A
- Yestophat.com · read 19 Sep 2026
- Live teaching
- Educators can use interactive polls, discussions, quizzes, and instant feedback to involve students during lectures.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- LMS functions
- Its LMS integrations can provide roster sync, grade sync, deep links, and single sign-on; Top Hat states its LTI 1.3 tool is 1EdTech-certified.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- LMS integrations
- Top Hat lists integrations with Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Moodle, and Sakai, with LTI 1.3 integrations released for Canvas and D2L Brightspace.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Top Hat says it stores information on servers in the United States and Canada and follows FERPA rules to keep school information confidential.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- Top Hat is a higher education student engagement and courseware platform for interactive, personalized learning in and beyond class.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- Top Hat says it holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and encrypts data in transit and data at rest.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Paid from
- 35tophat.com · read 19 Sep 2026
- Student insights
- Top Hat turns attendance, class participation, readings, and assessment data into insights about student progress.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Top Hat lists support by phone, email, and live chat for instructors and students, with support hours of Monday to Friday, 9 AM–9 PM ET.tophat.com · read 7 Oct 2026
