# SmartPass Mobile vs Common App

The clearest difference is update cadence: SmartPass Mobile at fortnightly against Common App's every 9 months. Common App's advantage is chart position (#30 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.9 for SmartPass Mobile against 3.0 for Common App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 673 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of SmartPass Mobile's written reviews are positive against 23% of Common App's.

SmartPass Mobile ships an update fortnightly, Common App every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartPass Mobile | Common App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartpass-mobile/id1387337686/reviews) | **[3.0 (673 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 673 |
| Positive reviews | **26.7% of reviews** | 22.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#30** |
| Size | 46 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SmartPass, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742462448) | [The Common Application](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030434052) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartPass Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartpass-mobile/id1387337686)

This app allows educators and school staff to manage digital hall passes in real-time. It enables the creation, approval, and tracking of student passes, with features like Hall Monitor and Kiosk Mode for efficient school management.

**Highlights:** Create and schedule digital hall passes, Approve or deny pass requests, Real-time student tracking with photos, Kiosk Mode for device-limited rooms, Access staff ID cards, Manage school account settings

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Helps track student activity
- 👍 Useful for school administrators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant log-out issues
- 🕰️ Restrictive time limits
- 🚫 Invades student privacy
- 💤 Disrupts class time
- 🤕 Causes student stress and anxiety

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and glitches
- Unreliable pass tracking
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- More flexible time limits
- Customizable settings for each school
- Better integration with school systems
- Ability to provide feedback/explanations for time limit overruns


### Common App

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

**Currently charting:** #30 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 SmartPass Mobile free?

SmartPass Mobile 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, SmartPass Mobile or Common App?

Common App is rated higher. SmartPass Mobile averages 2.9 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Common App averages 3.0 from 673 ratings.

### Do SmartPass Mobile or Common App have ads?

Neither SmartPass Mobile nor Common App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartPass Mobile or Common App?

SmartPass Mobile ships an update fortnightly, and Common App every 9 months. Most recently, SmartPass Mobile was updated on October 13, 2026 and Common App on October 13, 2026.

---

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