# Switch™ Mobile Access vs PennWest Shield

The clearest difference is rating: PennWest Shield at 5.0 against Switch™ Mobile Access's 2.7. Switch™ Mobile Access's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

PennWest Shield holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Switch™ Mobile Access has 36 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Switch™ Mobile Access ships an update every 7 months, PennWest Shield every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Switch™ Mobile Access | PennWest Shield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/switch-mobile-access/id1477107806/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pennwest-shield/id6578456707/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [dormakaba USA Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1477107505) | [Pennsylvania Western University](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524819314) |

## What reviewers say

### Switch™ Mobile Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/switch-mobile-access/id1477107806)

This application enables Bluetooth-based access control for commercial locks and hardware. It transforms doors and cabinets into smart locks, allowing users to request access keys from system administrators. The app supports multi-site access and adapts its interface based on user roles.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth access control, Smart lock functionality, Background access mode, Touch ID and Face ID support, Multi-site access, Role-adaptive interface

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### PennWest Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pennwest-shield/id6578456707)

Enhance organizational security with tools like a panic slider, tip submission, and a safety timer. This app provides an extra layer of protection for your community.

**Highlights:** Panic Slider, Submit Tips, Safety Timer, Organizational Protection, Additional Security Layer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Switch™ Mobile Access free?

Switch™ Mobile Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PennWest Shield free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Switch™ Mobile Access or PennWest Shield?

PennWest Shield is rated higher. Switch™ Mobile Access averages 2.7 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while PennWest Shield averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Switch™ Mobile Access or PennWest Shield have ads?

Neither Switch™ Mobile Access nor PennWest Shield shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Switch™ Mobile Access or PennWest Shield?

Switch™ Mobile Access ships an update every 7 months, and PennWest Shield every 4 months. Most recently, Switch™ Mobile Access was updated on October 17, 2026 and PennWest Shield on October 12, 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.*