Common App vs AppAdvisor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Apply to 1000+ colleges
- Research financial aid
- Get counselor advice
- Secure application process
- Mobile convenience
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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.
AppAdvisor
This app analyzes your academic profile, test scores, activities, and essays to create a personalized college admissions plan. It provides an application score, estimated admission chances, and identifies areas for improvement to help you make informed decisions.
- Personalized college admissions plan
- Application score and category breakdown
- Estimated admission chances
- GPA and test score comparison
- AI-assisted essay feedback
- Activity tracking
- Organized college list management
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College admissions can feel unpredictable. AppAdvisor turns the information in your application into a clear, personalized plan. Build your profile with your academics, test scores, activities, essays, background, and college list. AppAdvisor analyzes the complete picture and shows where you stand, what is helping, and what you can improve before you apply. WITH APPADVISOR YOU CAN: • Get an overall application score and category breakdown • See estimated admission chances for each school on your list • Compare your GPA and test scores with admitted-student ranges • Explore school-specific fit and what each college values • Identify critical gaps, strengths, and personalized next steps • Write and organize college essays in one place • Get AI-assisted essay feedback and scoring • Track activities and keep application details organized • Update your college list and generate a fresh report as your profile changes AppAdvisor helps students make more informed choices and focus their effort where it matters most. Use your report to balance your college list, improve weaker parts of your application, and approach application season with a clearer plan. Admission estimates and recommendations are informational only. They are not guarantees of admission. AppAdvisor is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Some reports and premium features require an in-app purchase or subscription. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://appadvisor.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://appadvisor.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: AppAdvisor at 100% against Common App's 23%. AppAdvisor also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). Common App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (677 vs 2). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. AppAdvisor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Common App asks for nothing beyond the download.
AppAdvisor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common App has 677 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Common App's written reviews are positive against 100% of AppAdvisor's.
| Parameter | Common App | AppAdvisor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (677 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 22.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 677 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #38 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Common Application | Buzzed Technologies LLC |
Customer experience
Common App
AppAdvisor
Bugs and 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
AppAdvisor
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Common App
No in-app purchases
AppAdvisor
- AppAdvisor Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- AppAdvisor Pro7 Days trial$19.993 Months
