# Clearing by Uni Compare vs Common App

The clearest difference is rating: Clearing by Uni Compare at 4.6 against Common App's 3.1. Clearing by Uni Compare also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (36% vs 23%). Common App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, 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.

Clearing by Uni Compare holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common App has 656 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Clearing by Uni Compare's written reviews are positive against 23% of Common App's.

Clearing by Uni Compare ships an update fortnightly, Common App every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clearing by Uni Compare | Common App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearing-by-uni-compare/id1085107223/reviews)** | [3.1 (656 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **656** |
| Positive reviews | **36.4% of reviews** | 23.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#33** |
| Size | 89 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [University Compare](https://appshunter.io/developer/899101420) | [The Common Application](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030434052) |

## What reviewers say

### Clearing by Uni Compare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearing-by-uni-compare/id1085107223)

This app assists students in finding university courses during the Clearing process. It allows users to browse live course availability, connect with UK universities directly, and save favorite options. Features include a UCAS calculator and detailed course statistics to help secure a desired place.

**Highlights:** Browse live Clearing course availability, Call UK universities directly, Save favorite courses and universities, UCAS calculator for course options, Check graduate salaries and employment rates, Improved search and filters

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 All information in one place
- 🚀 Streamlined university search
- 🤝 Direct contact with universities
- ✅ Helpful for Clearing

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Missing many universities/courses
- ⚠️ Inaccurate or incomplete data
- 🚫 Registration issues
- 📉 Poor navigation/layout
- 🐛 App crashes/errors

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot register: missing subject interest/preferred university
- Keyboard covers register button on iOS
- App crashes when calculating UCAS points
- Soft internal error preventing loading
- Black see-through screen during subject selection

**Requested features**

- Add missing universities and courses
- Improve accuracy of university/course data
- Fix registration process
- Add National 5 results option
- Add custom UCAS tariff points input


### Common App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509)

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Manage your college applications on the go. This app offers a secure and streamlined way to apply to over 1000 colleges, research financial aid options, and access guidance from counselors, all from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Apply to 1000+ colleges, Research financial aid, Get counselor advice, Secure application process, Mobile convenience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient mobile app
- 👍 Same functionality as website
- 🎉 Finally available as an app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Requires re-login every time
- 🚫 Doesn't work for transfer students

**Reported bugs**

- White screen on login
- App doesn't load past logo
- Redirects transfer students to website

**Requested features**

- Keep user logged in for longer
- Increase text box size
- Add back button navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Clearing by Uni Compare free?

Clearing by Uni Compare is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Common App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Clearing by Uni Compare or Common App?

Clearing by Uni Compare is rated higher. Clearing by Uni Compare averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Common App averages 3.1 from 656 ratings.

### Do Clearing by Uni Compare or Common App have ads?

Clearing by Uni Compare shows ads; Common App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Clearing by Uni Compare or Common App?

Clearing by Uni Compare ships an update fortnightly, and Common App every 10 months. Most recently, Clearing by Uni Compare was updated on September 3, 2026 and Common App on September 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*