Comparison

Penn State Go vs Common App

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

Head to head
About

Penn State Go

This app provides a personalized hub for the Penn State community, offering access to academic tools, campus life management, important updates, and essential resources. It helps users stay informed and connected with campus services and events.

Highlights
  • Personalized homepage with campus weather
  • Academic calendar and course updates
  • Campus dining and meal plan management
  • Access to PSU email and student ID
  • Campus event discovery and alerts
  • Campus maps and shuttle tracking
  • Health, wellness, and safety resources
Features
Read full description

Penn State Go is the official mobile app of Penn State. The app connects you with the tools, services, and updates that matter most. With a personalized homepage, Penn State Go greets you with the current date and campus weather, and highlights timely content based on your experience. STAY ON TOP OF ACADEMICS • LionPATH: Check grades, class schedules, tuition bills, and more • Canvas: View course updates, announcements, to-do items, messages, and grades • Academic Calendar: Track key academic dates and semester milestones • Starfish: Connect with your adviser and receive academic alerts • Countdown Widget: Track upcoming deadlines, events, and breaks MANAGE CAMPUS LIFE • PSU Email: Quick access to your Penn State email account • id+ Card: View LionCash and meal plan balances, manage transactions, and update plans • Dining: Order food on the go, view past orders, and manage payment methods • Housing: View your current housing assignment and meal plan, with quick access to housing resources STAY INFORMED AND CONNECTED • Messages: Get personalized push notifications and in-app alerts based on your college, housing, meal plan, international status, and more • Events Calendars: Discover campus events and filter by your academic college or interests • Special Events: Stay up to date on Arrival Week, THON, Homecoming, Commencement, Welcome Week, and more • Digital Signage: View content from campus digital signage, directly in the app • News: Catch up on the latest updates from across the Penn State community SUPPORT AND SAFETY • Wellness: Find campus health, counseling, and fitness resources • Safety: Access emergency contacts, safety tips, and campus services CAMPUS RESOURCES • Maps: Explore buildings, departments, services, and parking • Shuttles: Get live updates on Penn State and CATA shuttle routes • Library: Search library catalogs and access academic resources • Paw Prints: Use pay-as-you-go printing services on campus You can also share your Penn State pride with Penn State Go Sticker Packs in Messages. Penn State Go is available to students, faculty, staff, parents and families, and alumni. While some features are designed for students, the app provides valuable tools and information for the entire Penn State community. Whether you’re managing your classes, supporting a student, or staying connected to your alma mater, Penn State Go helps you stay in the know and on the go.

About

Common App

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Simplify your college application experience with Common App for mobile. Common App for mobile provides you with the same secure, streamlined application experience you’ve come to expect from Common App online, all from the convenience of your mobile device. The app seamlessly integrates with the first-year desktop experience — allowing you to apply to more than 1000 colleges, research financial aid, and get advice from counselors. Common App for mobile is free and easy to use. Download the app to navigate your entire college application journey.

Screenshots

Penn State Go4 screens
Common App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Penn State Go at 4.2 against Common App's 3.0. Penn State Go also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 23%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). Common App's advantage is ratings volume (673 vs 5) and chart position (#27 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Penn State Go holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common App has 673 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Penn State Go's written reviews are positive against 23% of Common App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Penn State Go ships an update every 3 months, Common App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Penn State Go versus Common App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPenn State GoCommon App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings) — better3.0 (673 ratings)
Positive reviews45.0% of reviews — better22.9% of reviews
Number of ratings5673 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#27 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Pennsylvania State UniversityThe Common Application

Customer experience

Penn State Go

Written reviews40 reviews
Positive45.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative47.5%

Common App

All ratings673 ratings
Positive47.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative43.8%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive22.9%
Neutral5.1%
Negative72.0%

Bugs and requests

Penn State Go

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Common App

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • White screen on login
  • App doesn't load past logo
  • Redirects transfer students to website

Requested features

3 requests
  • Keep user logged in for longer
  • Increase text box size
  • Add back button navigation

In-app purchases

None

Penn State Go

No in-app purchases

None

Common App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Penn State Go free?
Penn State Go 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, Penn State Go or Common App?
Penn State Go is rated higher. Penn State Go averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Common App averages 3.0 from 673 ratings.
Do Penn State Go or Common App have ads?
Neither Penn State Go nor Common App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Penn State Go or Common App?
Penn State Go ships an update every 3 months, and Common App every 9 months. Most recently, Penn State Go was updated on October 20, 2026 and Common App on October 17, 2026.

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