# Cal State LA vs SMC Go

The clearest difference is rating: Cal State LA at 4.6 against SMC Go's 4.1. Cal State LA also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (813 vs 18). SMC Go's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Cal State LA holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cal State LA has 813 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Cal State LA's written reviews are positive against 67% of SMC Go's.

Cal State LA ships an update every 4 weeks, SMC Go every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cal State LA | SMC Go |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (813 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cal-state-la-getmobile/id1043352893/reviews)** | [4.1 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smc-go/id1265157294/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **813** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **76.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 80 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [California State University, Los Angeles](https://appshunter.io/developer/869666576) | [Santa Monica Community College District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265157293) |

## What reviewers say

### Cal State LA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cal-state-la-getmobile/id1043352893)

Access essential academic and financial information for Cal State LA students. Manage class schedules, view grades, pay fees, and stay updated on university notices directly from your mobile device. Integrates with other campus resources for a streamlined student experience.

**Highlights:** View class schedules and course catalog, Check grades and final exam schedules, Manage fee information and payments, Access financial aid details, Enroll in classes and manage waitlists, View university notices and holds, Access campus map and integrated tools

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to access resources
- 👍 Convenient one-stop shop
- 👍 Smooth and organized interface
- 👍 Helpful for remote learning
- 👍 Accurate information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and errors
- 🐛 Logging out issues
- 🐛 Dysfunctional features
- 🐛 Lack of Canvas integration

**Reported bugs**

- Financial aid link not working
- Features not loading properly
- Login issues across devices

**Requested features**

- Link to Canvas pages
- Grades and GPA tracking
- Optimization for larger screens


### SMC Go

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smc-go/id1265157294)

This official college app helps students navigate their academic journey. It provides resources, tips, and tools to manage daily tasks, connect with the campus community, and achieve educational goals.

**Highlights:** Ask Pearl virtual assistant, Quick Links to resources, Class finding assistance, Message Channels for communication, Events & Workshops listings, Pearl's Marketplace, Programs & Services information, Student Life updates

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cal State LA free?

Cal State LA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SMC Go free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cal State LA or SMC Go?

Cal State LA is rated higher. Cal State LA averages 4.6 out of 5 from 813 ratings, while SMC Go averages 4.1 from 18 ratings.

### Do Cal State LA or SMC Go have ads?

Neither Cal State LA nor SMC Go shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cal State LA or SMC Go?

Cal State LA ships an update every 4 weeks, and SMC Go every 12 months. Most recently, Cal State LA was updated on November 6, 2026 and SMC Go on November 2, 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.*