# Sallie Mae vs AscentConnect

The clearest difference is rating: Sallie Mae at 4.5 against AscentConnect's 3.9. Sallie Mae also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). AscentConnect's advantage is review sentiment (43% vs 15%) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). 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.

Sallie Mae holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sallie Mae has 105K ratings behind it against 281, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 15% of Sallie Mae's written reviews are positive against 43% of AscentConnect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sallie Mae | AscentConnect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (105K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sallie-mae/id1114040896/reviews)** | [3.9 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascentconnect/id1615339809/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **105K** | 281 |
| Positive reviews | 14.9% of reviews | **42.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sallie Mae, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/456706617) | [Ascent Funding, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615339811) |

## What reviewers say

### Sallie Mae

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sallie-mae/id1114040896)

Manage your student loans and credit cards conveniently from your mobile device. Check balances, make payments, set up auto-pay, and track loan applications. Secure login options and in-app messaging provide easy access and support.

**Highlights:** View account summary for loans and credit cards, Make payments on student loans, Set up and manage automatic payments, View loan application status, Receive payment due notifications, Secure login with Touch ID/Face ID, Track credit health with FICO Score

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Convenient for making payments
- 🔒 Secure with fingerprint/face ID login
- 💡 Helpful for tracking loan details

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy app performance
- 🤔 Inaccurate loan information
- 😤 Poor customer service
- 💸 Predatory loan terms from Sallie Mae

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and endless login loops
- Incorrect payment processing and late fees
- Outdated app information not syncing with website

**Requested features**

- Ability to pay individual loans separately
- Improved notification system for payments
- More detailed loan history and analytics
- Seamless integration with bank accounts


### 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 Sallie Mae free?

Sallie Mae 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, Sallie Mae or AscentConnect?

Sallie Mae is rated higher. Sallie Mae averages 4.5 out of 5 from 105K ratings, while AscentConnect averages 3.9 from 281 ratings.

### Do Sallie Mae or AscentConnect have ads?

AscentConnect shows ads; Sallie Mae does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sallie Mae or AscentConnect?

Sallie Mae ships an update every 3 weeks, and AscentConnect every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sallie Mae was updated on November 1, 2026 and AscentConnect on October 24, 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.*