# MOHELA vs AscentConnect

The clearest difference is rating: MOHELA at 4.6 against AscentConnect's 3.9. MOHELA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). AscentConnect's advantage is review sentiment (44% vs 23%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

MOHELA holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MOHELA has 47K ratings behind it against 277, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of MOHELA's written reviews are positive against 44% of AscentConnect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MOHELA ships an update every 5 weeks, AscentConnect every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MOHELA | AscentConnect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mohela/id1082597420/reviews)** | [3.9 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascentconnect/id1615339809/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47K** | 277 |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | **44.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082597419) | [Ascent Funding, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615339811) |

## What reviewers say

### MOHELA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mohela/id1082597420)

Manage your student loans with ease. Schedule payments, view your loan history, upload important documents, and access tax information securely. Get support and repayment options for your student loans.

**Highlights:** Schedule and manage payments, View payment history, Upload forms securely, Access tax information, Secure account access, Messaging capabilities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient payment options
- 🚀 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Helpful customer service
- 🚀 Straightforward account management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues and password reset problems
- 🐛 Inconsistent app functionality
- 🐛 Lack of communication from the company
- 🐛 Difficulty making payments and managing loans
- 🐛 Poor customer service and long wait times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Saved bank account information being deleted
- Face ID/biometric login not working consistently
- Confusing error messages and navigation

**Requested features**

- Ability to apply payments directly to principal
- Option to view payment history and loan details within the app
- Improved notification system to keep users informed
- Integration of website features into the mobile app


### AscentConnect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascentconnect/id1615339809)

Manage your student loans with ease. Apply for new loans, track your balance, and update billing information. Build healthy financial habits by making timely payments and exploring exclusive student benefits.

**Highlights:** Apply for loans, Manage loan payments, Track loan balance, Update billing information, Set up autopay, Access exclusive student benefits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and smooth app performance
- 💳 Convenient payment functionality
- 📱 User-friendly compared to website
- 🔐 Face recognition login option

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login and authentication failures
- 🐛 App crashes and doesn't load properly
- 💸 High monthly costs and fees
- 🔐 Slow email verification code delivery
- 📊 Inconsistent and confusing dashboard display

**Reported bugs**

- Login credentials not saved, app forgets email and password
- Secondary authentication code screen goes blank
- App stuck on second authorization page
- Payment input field requires deletion of zeros before entering amount
- Loans not displaying in app but visible on website

**Requested features**

- Payment breakdown showing principal vs interest allocation
- Loan balance display in recent payments section
- SMS verification code option instead of email
- Visual graphs and charts for loan terms
- Calendar view for payment schedules


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MOHELA free?

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

### Is AscentConnect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MOHELA or AscentConnect?

MOHELA is rated higher. MOHELA averages 4.6 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while AscentConnect averages 3.9 from 277 ratings.

### Do MOHELA or AscentConnect have ads?

AscentConnect shows ads; MOHELA does not.

### Which is updated more often, MOHELA or AscentConnect?

MOHELA ships an update every 5 weeks, and AscentConnect every 3 weeks. Most recently, MOHELA was updated on September 25, 2026 and AscentConnect on September 21, 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.*