# Penji vs Synapse

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Penji at none against Synapse's 2. Penji also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Synapse sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $79.99 per year. Penji asks for nothing beyond the download.

Penji ships an update every 9 days, Synapse every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penji | Synapse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penji/id1030060714/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penji, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030060713) | [Roi Rozenthal](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775226779) |

## What reviewers say

### Penji

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penji/id1030060714)

Connect with campus support services like tutoring, advising, and mentoring. Schedule appointments, join drop-in hours, and find study groups to enhance your academic journey. This app provides a modern, mobile-first experience for accessing university resources.

**Highlights:** Schedule tutors and mentors, Attend drop-in hours, Register for group sessions, Find study groups, Access advising resources, Remote-friendly support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient scheduling
- 🚀 Helpful for tutoring
- 💡 Useful for improving grades
- 🙌 Great tutors and support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and technical issues
- 💬 Messaging features need improvement
- 🤔 Penalty for missed appointments

**Reported bugs**

- Unusable on iPad
- Tutors not showing as available

**Requested features**

- Add voice/call features
- Improve messaging and notifications


### Synapse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synapse-flashcard-maker/id6780468536)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Synapse Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Synapse Premium — Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penji free?

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

### Is Synapse free?

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

### Do Penji or Synapse have ads?

Neither Penji nor Synapse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penji or Synapse?

Penji ships an update every 9 days, and Synapse every 5 weeks. Most recently, Penji was updated on September 23, 2026 and Synapse on September 4, 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.*