# AQ C.A.R.E.S. vs Common App

The clearest difference is update cadence: Common App at every 9 months against AQ C.A.R.E.S.'s every 45 months. Common App also leads on chart position (#25 vs unranked). AQ C.A.R.E.S.'s advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, 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.

AQ C.A.R.E.S. ships an update every 45 months, Common App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AQ C.A.R.E.S. | Common App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.0 (677 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **677** |
| Positive reviews | — | 22.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 45 months | **Every 9 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#25** |
| Size | 23 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aquinas College](https://appshunter.io/developer/552104120) | [The Common Application](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030434052) |

## What reviewers say

### AQ C.A.R.E.S.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aq-cares/id1437562172)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Common App

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

**Currently charting:** #25 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 AQ C.A.R.E.S. free?

AQ C.A.R.E.S. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Common App free?

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

### Do AQ C.A.R.E.S. or Common App have ads?

Neither AQ C.A.R.E.S. nor Common App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AQ C.A.R.E.S. or Common App?

AQ C.A.R.E.S. ships an update every 45 months, and Common App every 9 months. Most recently, AQ C.A.R.E.S. was updated on October 26, 2026 and Common App on October 29, 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.*