# CarolinaU vs Common App

The clearest difference is update cadence: CarolinaU at monthly against Common App's every 9 months. CarolinaU also leads on rating (3.3 vs 3.0) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). Common App's advantage is ratings volume (679 vs 6) and review sentiment (23% vs 0%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

CarolinaU holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common App has 679 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of CarolinaU's written reviews are positive against 23% of Common App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CarolinaU ships an update monthly, Common App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CarolinaU | Common App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carolinau/id1512963239/reviews)** | [3.0 (679 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-app/id1533688509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **679** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **22.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#61** |
| Size | 58 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jenzabar, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/990495273) | [The Common Application](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030434052) |

## What reviewers say

### CarolinaU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carolinau/id1512963239)

This app provides students, faculty, and staff with access to university information like class schedules, grades, and announcements. Prospective students can apply, track events, and explore campus.

**Highlights:** Announcements, Class schedules, Grades, Coursework, Attendance, Course registration, Campus map

**In-app purchases:** none


### Common App

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

**Currently charting:** #61 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 CarolinaU free?

CarolinaU 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, CarolinaU or Common App?

CarolinaU is rated higher. CarolinaU averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Common App averages 3.0 from 679 ratings.

### Do CarolinaU or Common App have ads?

Neither CarolinaU nor Common App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CarolinaU or Common App?

CarolinaU ships an update monthly, and Common App every 9 months. Most recently, CarolinaU was updated on November 7, 2026 and Common App on November 11, 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.*