# FernUni vs GESIS SMART

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GESIS SMART at 50% against FernUni's 33%. GESIS SMART also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). FernUni's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). 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.

FernUni ships an update every 6 weeks, GESIS SMART every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FernUni | GESIS SMART |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fernuni/id1617250892/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FernUni Hagen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420495269) | [GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735286430) |

## What reviewers say

### FernUni

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fernuni/id1617250892)

This app consolidates essential services for university students, offering access to grades, a digital student ID, and learning resources. Stay updated with news, campus locations, and find study partners.

**Highlights:** Current exam results, Digital student ID, Links to digital learning resources, News on research, teaching, and events, Campus locations overview, Canteen menu, Study group finder

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### GESIS SMART

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gesis-smart/id6479244351)

Participate in academic research by completing surveys and questionnaires directly within the app. Track your progress and compensation for contributing to studies. Requires an access code to join specific research projects.

**Highlights:** Complete questionnaires in-app, Track study progress, View compensation details, Receive push notifications for new surveys, Secure and pseudonymized data storage, Control data sharing permissions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FernUni free?

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

### Is GESIS SMART free?

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

### Do FernUni or GESIS SMART have ads?

Neither FernUni nor GESIS SMART shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FernUni or GESIS SMART?

FernUni ships an update every 6 weeks, and GESIS SMART every 2 months. Most recently, FernUni was updated on October 9, 2026 and GESIS SMART on October 17, 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.*