# Black Forest Hills Elementary vs SproutAbout

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Black Forest Hills Elementary at 100% against SproutAbout's 38%. Black Forest Hills Elementary also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.8). SproutAbout's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 14 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Black Forest Hills Elementary holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SproutAbout has 727 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Black Forest Hills Elementary's written reviews are positive against 38% of SproutAbout's.

Black Forest Hills Elementary ships an update every 14 months, SproutAbout every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Black Forest Hills Elementary | SproutAbout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-forest-hills-elementary/id1276605634/reviews)** | [2.8 (727 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sproutabout/id1596935004/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **727** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 38.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Forest Hills Elementary PTCO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621856506) | [Learning Care Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/1596935006) |

## What reviewers say

### Black Forest Hills Elementary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-forest-hills-elementary/id1276605634)

Stay connected with the latest news, events, and important updates from the school. Receive push notifications, access a faculty directory, and find parent resources. Easily notify the school of absences through this communication tool.

**Highlights:** Latest news and events, Push notifications, Faculty listing, Parent resources, Absence notification

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SproutAbout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sproutabout/id1596935004)

This app enhances family communication with early childhood education centers. It provides real-time classroom video, activity updates tied to learning goals, and direct communication with school staff, offering peace of mind for parents.

**Highlights:** Live classroom video streaming, Share pick-up/drop-off notes, Direct connection with school staff, Save, share, and comment on media, Activity updates linked to learning goals, View routine logs (naps, meals)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤗 Great communication tool
- 👀 Helpful live video feed
- 📚 Informative updates on child's activities
- 💬 Convenient messaging with teachers
- 🕰️ Provides peace of mind throughout the day

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
- ⏱️ Slow loading times and performance issues
- 🔍 Inconsistent notifications and updates
- 🤖 Buggy video streaming functionality
- 🔒 Security concerns with screenshot/recording restrictions

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not sending or disappearing
- Inability to access live video feed
- App freezing or logging users out randomly
- Inconsistent display of child's enrollment status
- Scrolling issues when browsing photos/videos

**Requested features**

- Add autocorrect/spell check for messages
- Improve photo/video browsing and organization
- Develop a desktop/web version of the app
- Provide better communication tools for teachers
- Implement more reliable push notifications


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Black Forest Hills Elementary free?

Black Forest Hills Elementary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SproutAbout free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Black Forest Hills Elementary or SproutAbout?

Black Forest Hills Elementary is rated higher. Black Forest Hills Elementary averages 4.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while SproutAbout averages 2.8 from 727 ratings.

### Do Black Forest Hills Elementary or SproutAbout have ads?

Black Forest Hills Elementary shows ads; SproutAbout does not.

### Which is updated more often, Black Forest Hills Elementary or SproutAbout?

Black Forest Hills Elementary ships an update every 14 months, and SproutAbout every 5 weeks. Most recently, Black Forest Hills Elementary was updated on October 24, 2026 and SproutAbout 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.*