# AscentConnect vs Earnest Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: AscentConnect at 3.9 against Earnest Mobile's 1.9. AscentConnect also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 10%) and ratings volume (281 vs 43). Earnest Mobile's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

AscentConnect holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AscentConnect has 281 ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of AscentConnect's written reviews are positive against 10% of Earnest Mobile's.

AscentConnect ships an update every 3 weeks, Earnest Mobile every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AscentConnect | Earnest Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascentconnect/id1615339809/reviews)** | [1.9 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earnest-mobile/id6738747325/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **281** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | **42.6% of reviews** | 10.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 59 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.8.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ascent Funding, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615339811) | [Earnest Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1017394222) |

## What reviewers say

### AscentConnect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascentconnect/id1615339809)

Manage your student loans with ease. Apply for new loans, track your balance, and update billing information. Build healthy financial habits by making timely payments and exploring exclusive student benefits.

**Highlights:** Apply for loans, Manage loan payments, Track loan balance, Update billing information, Set up autopay, Access exclusive student benefits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and smooth app performance
- 💳 Convenient payment functionality
- 📱 User-friendly compared to website
- 🔐 Face recognition login option

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login and authentication failures
- 🐛 App crashes and doesn't load properly
- 💸 High monthly costs and fees
- 🔐 Slow email verification code delivery
- 📊 Inconsistent and confusing dashboard display

**Reported bugs**

- Login credentials not saved, app forgets email and password
- Secondary authentication code screen goes blank
- App stuck on second authorization page
- Payment input field requires deletion of zeros before entering amount
- Loans not displaying in app but visible on website

**Requested features**

- Payment breakdown showing principal vs interest allocation
- Loan balance display in recent payments section
- SMS verification code option instead of email
- Visual graphs and charts for loan terms
- Calendar view for payment schedules


### Earnest Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earnest-mobile/id6738747325)

Easily manage your student loans on the go. Track repayment progress, view balances, make payments, and adjust Auto Pay settings from a single, convenient platform.

**Highlights:** Track repayment progress, View loan balances, Make and schedule payments, Manage Auto Pay settings, Update profile information, Review payment history

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AscentConnect free?

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

### Is Earnest Mobile free?

Earnest Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AscentConnect or Earnest Mobile?

AscentConnect is rated higher. AscentConnect averages 3.9 out of 5 from 281 ratings, while Earnest Mobile averages 1.9 from 43 ratings.

### Do AscentConnect or Earnest Mobile have ads?

AscentConnect shows ads; Earnest Mobile does not.

### Which is updated more often, AscentConnect or Earnest Mobile?

AscentConnect ships an update every 3 weeks, and Earnest Mobile every 2 weeks. Most recently, AscentConnect was updated on October 24, 2026 and Earnest Mobile on October 28, 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.*