Comparison

SchoolBase vs Arbor Parent App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SchoolBase

This app provides a secure platform for schools to communicate with parents and pupils. It offers features like timetabling, event notifications, and a notice board. Staff can also manage registers, pupil information, and send messages.

Highlights
  • Timetabling access
  • Event notifications
  • Notice board updates
  • Register taking
  • Pupil and group finder
  • Message sending
Features
Read full description

Furlong's SchoolBase enables fast, simple and secure access to important school information. Parents and pupils have access to key areas including: - Timetabling - Events - Notice Board SchoolBase helps improve communication between schools, parents and pupils. Staff can: - Take registers - Find pupils and groups - Access timetables - See events - Manage cover requests - Send messages to parents and pupils Even more features are in development and will be available soon!

About

Arbor Parent App

Manage your child's school life from one app. Track attendance, behavior, and academic progress. Book parent consultations, register for clubs and trips, and handle payments easily. Add medical information and check homework assignments.

Highlights
  • Track attendance and behavior
  • Monitor academic progress
  • Register for clubs and trips
  • Manage payments for meals and trips
  • Book parent consultations
  • View child's timetable
  • Check homework assignments
Features
Read full description

Arbor lets you book parent/guardian consultation slots, register your child for a club or trip, and manage payments all from one place. You can also use it to check in on your child’s attendance, behaviour & academic progress. Arbor is only for parents at schools using Arbor Management Information System (MIS). If you’re not sure whether this applies to you, we recommend contacting your school office. Use Arbor to: - Take a look at your child’s key attendance information, including their average attendance for the year so far - Edit contact details for your child such as your home address or phone number - Register your child for an after-school club - Register your child for an upcoming school trip - Take a look at your child's behaviour information, including positive & negative behaviour points awarded this year - Manage your child’s payment accounts and pay for meals or trips directly - Track your child's academic progress, including the targets they’re working towards this year - Download report cards - Book slots at parent/guardian consultations - See your child’s timetable - Add new medical information about your child - Check upcoming homework assignments Having trouble? Please reach out directly to your school office for help.

Screenshots

SchoolBase4 screens
Arbor Parent App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SchoolBase at 2.7 against Arbor Parent App's 1.9. SchoolBase also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 2%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SchoolBase holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of SchoolBase's written reviews are positive against 2% of Arbor Parent App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SchoolBase ships an update every 3 weeks, Arbor Parent App monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SchoolBase versus Arbor Parent App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSchoolBaseArbor Parent App
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (3 ratings) — better1.9 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better2.0% of reviews
Number of ratings38 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFurlong SolutionsArbor Education Partners

Customer experience

SchoolBase

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Arbor Parent App

All ratings8 ratings
Positive12.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews356 reviews
Positive2.0%
Neutral2.5%
Negative95.5%

Bugs and requests

SchoolBase

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Arbor Parent App

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues with incorrect password errors
  • Inconsistent behavior across web and mobile versions
  • Inability to delete or archive old assignments and activities

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add a calendar view for events and appointments
  • Improve messaging functionality with better organization and notifications
  • Allow parents to manage multiple children from a single account
  • Integrate with digital wallets and enable auto top-up for meal balances

In-app purchases

None

SchoolBase

No in-app purchases

None

Arbor Parent App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SchoolBase free?
SchoolBase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Arbor Parent App free?
Arbor Parent App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SchoolBase or Arbor Parent App?
SchoolBase is rated higher. SchoolBase averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Arbor Parent App averages 1.9 from 8 ratings.
Do SchoolBase or Arbor Parent App have ads?
Neither SchoolBase nor Arbor Parent App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SchoolBase or Arbor Parent App?
SchoolBase ships an update every 3 weeks, and Arbor Parent App monthly. Most recently, SchoolBase was updated on June 1, 2026 and Arbor Parent App on October 3, 2026.

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