Comparison

GetSmarter vs EarnPlay Control

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

Head to head
About

GetSmarter

Access your online campus and course materials from anywhere. Engage with course content, participate in discussions, submit assignments, and track your academic progress and grades on the go.

Highlights
  • Access course content anytime
  • Participate in quizzes and forums
  • Submit assignments
  • Track deadlines
  • Receive instant notifications
  • View grades and track progress
Features
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Welcome to the GetSmarter Campus app: the essential companion for your professional development journey. Designed for the modern student, this app ensures that your course materials, faculty, and peers are always within reach. Key app features: - Browse the catalog: Explore the full range of GetSmarter short courses. - Learn on the go: Access videos, readings, and course content offline while you’re on the move. - Keep informed: Stay ahead of deadlines with smart, real-time reminders. - Collaborate with peers: Engage in forums and peer-to-peer discussions. - Track your performance: Check your progress with real-time visibility into your grades and milestones. GetSmarter with edX bridges the gap between work and study to help you gain the verifiable skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. GetSmarter and edX are owned by 2U.

About

EarnPlay Control

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Turn screen time into something kids can earn—not something parents fight about every day. EarnPlay uses Apple's Family Controls to lock parent-selected apps (YouTube, Minecraft, games, and more) until your child completes short learning games. Mix letter names, beginning sounds, reading words, Make 10, age-banded maths (5–10), and geography (continents and capitals), in English or Spanish. Pass, and earned play minutes unlock. When time runs out, apps lock again automatically. LEARN A LITTLE. PLAY A LITTLE. WHY PARENTS CHOOSE EARNPLAY • Positive incentives instead of endless "no" • Real technical enforcement—not an honor system • You pick exactly which apps require earned time • You choose which games are on, and how many misses are allowed • Auto-relock when the timer ends—no manual policing • Parent settings behind Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode HOW IT WORKS 1. Install on your child's iPhone or iPad (iOS 17+) 2. Approve Family Controls when iOS prompts 3. Select gated apps with Apple's Family Activity picker 4. Enable the exercises you want and set minutes granted 5. Child completes quizzes → apps unlock → time ends → shields return BUILT FOR KIDS (AGES 4–10) • Big, friendly prompts and three-choice tap games • Voice answers for letter names, with on-device speech recognition • English or Spanish questions and voice, following the iPhone language • Tap fallback when the microphone isn't available • Gentle retry feedback—no shaming or punishment framing • Celebration when the reward threshold is met • Optional parent companion via iCloud to manage rules from another device APPLE SCREEN TIME, DONE RIGHT EarnPlay is built on Family Controls, Managed Settings, and Device Activity—the trusted APIs Apple uses for parental management. Shields appear on gated apps. A monitor extension re-applies protection when earned time expires, even if EarnPlay isn't open. PRIVACY FIRST • Core loop works fully offline • No child accounts or sign-up • No ads and no tracking • Quiz progress and timers stay on the device • Optional iCloud sharing is only used if you share a child profile with a parent companion REQUIREMENTS • iOS 17 or later on iPhone or iPad • Child Apple ID in Family Sharing (child device mode) • Family Controls authorization during setup • Microphone optional—tap answers always available PERFECT FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT • Minecraft or Roblox time earned with learning • YouTube minutes after a short quiz • A calmer alternative to daily screen-time battles • Screen Time limits with a positive twist Download EarnPlay and replace "because I said so" with "earn it first." Support: patakolabs.com/support/earnplay

Screenshots

GetSmarter4 screens
EarnPlay Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GetSmarter at Free against EarnPlay Control's $0.99. EarnPlay Control's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

GetSmarter is free to download; EarnPlay Control costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GetSmarter ships an update every 6 weeks, EarnPlay Control every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
GetSmarter versus EarnPlay Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGetSmarterEarnPlay Control
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.8 (1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGetSmarter Online LimitedFrancisco Gimeno

Bugs and requests

GetSmarter

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Error connecting to server
  • File picker not working properly
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to take notes within the app
  • Sync progress between app and website
  • Improved discussion thread navigation

EarnPlay Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GetSmarter

No in-app purchases

None

EarnPlay Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GetSmarter free?
GetSmarter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EarnPlay Control free?
EarnPlay Control costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do GetSmarter or EarnPlay Control have ads?
Neither GetSmarter nor EarnPlay Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GetSmarter or EarnPlay Control?
GetSmarter ships an update every 6 weeks, and EarnPlay Control every 8 days. Most recently, GetSmarter was updated on November 7, 2026 and EarnPlay Control on November 6, 2026.

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