# SmartBen NOW vs Exential Connect

The clearest difference is ratings volume: SmartBen NOW at 868 against Exential Connect's 6. Exential Connect's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Exential Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartBen NOW has 868 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SmartBen NOW ships an update every 3 months, Exential Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartBen NOW | Exential Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (868 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartben-now/id1195891353/reviews) | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exential-connect/id1463393053/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **868** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 46 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **16.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HodgesMace, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195891352) | [Total Facility Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462899537) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartBen NOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartben-now/id1195891353)

Access your employer-provided benefits information conveniently on your mobile device. Review plan details, make enrollment changes, and explore additional resources all within a single application.

**Highlights:** Access benefits information, Review plan details, Enroll or change benefits, Explore benefit resources, Up-to-date information

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great service
- 🚀 User-friendly app
- 💡 Convenient to have everything in one app
- 🚀 Helpful information provided

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy app
- 🐛 Trouble loading paystubs
- 🐛 Blank pages when viewing paystubs
- 🐛 App not working for over a month
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot download bank statements
- Cannot enter values in certain sections
- Login issues across devices
- Credentials not working
- Paycheck download function not working

**Requested features**

- Easier way to access tax forms and insurance info
- Add phone numbers for support
- Improve chat support knowledge
- Make important contact info more user-friendly
- Provide confirmation of successful enrollment


### Exential Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exential-connect/id1463393053)

This business application facilitates digital data collection and access to essential resources. It provides event information, mobile forms, and links to common systems for streamlined operations. A user account from the developer is required for access.

**Highlights:** Digital data gathering, Event access, Mobile forms, System link access, Streamlined operations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartBen NOW free?

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

### Is Exential Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartBen NOW or Exential Connect?

Exential Connect is rated higher. SmartBen NOW averages 4.5 out of 5 from 868 ratings, while Exential Connect averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do SmartBen NOW or Exential Connect have ads?

Neither SmartBen NOW nor Exential Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartBen NOW or Exential Connect?

SmartBen NOW ships an update every 3 months, and Exential Connect every 2 months. Most recently, SmartBen NOW was updated on October 13, 2026 and Exential Connect on October 7, 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.*