# TIAA vs READYSAVE 529

The clearest difference is ratings volume: READYSAVE 529 at 30K against TIAA's 8.3K. READYSAVE 529 also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

READYSAVE 529 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.3K and 30K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of TIAA's written reviews are positive against 31% of READYSAVE 529's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TIAA | READYSAVE 529 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (8.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiaa/id341447597/reviews) | **[4.7 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readysave-529/id1538849481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8.3K | **30K** |
| Positive reviews | **35.0% of reviews** | 30.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 166 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TIAA](https://appshunter.io/developer/341447600) | [Ascensus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455711984) |

## What reviewers say

### TIAA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiaa/id341447597)

Manage your retirement and brokerage accounts securely with this app. Monitor investments, track fund performance, and trade equities, ETFs, and mutual funds. Set financial goals and access support tools.

**Highlights:** Secure login (password, Touch ID, Face ID), Investment and retirement plan management, Brokerage trading (equities, ETFs, mutual funds), Financial goal monitoring, Peek View for portfolio balances, Access to support and statements, Apple Watch integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient access to accounts
- 🔒 Secure with Face ID/Touch ID
- 💡 Helpful for tracking investments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 🔍 Missing key features from website
- 🔍 Cluttered and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and session expiration
- Inconsistent display of account information
- Unreliable check deposit functionality
- Compatibility problems on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve performance and stability
- Provide more customization options
- Streamline navigation and information access
- Integrate more advanced investment tools


### READYSAVE 529

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readysave-529/id1538849481)

Manage your education savings plan account on the go. Securely access your 529 plan, track investments, and make contributions. Withdraw funds for education expenses starting July 2025.

**Highlights:** Secure 529 account access, View balance and transaction history, Add one-time or recurring contributions, Track investment allocations, Invite others to contribute, Withdraw funds for education expenses (July 2025)

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient for tracking 529 plans
- 💡 Allows recurring contributions
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🔍 Lacks key features like performance tracking and withdrawal options
- 🔍 Recurring contributions not flexible enough
- 🔍 Difficult to find and navigate the app

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues with Face ID and password saving
- Inconsistent behavior when making changes to accounts
- Delayed processing of contributions and gifts
- Navigation issues within the app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to view individual investment performance
- Provide more detailed information on fund allocations and investment options
- Allow withdrawals and distributions from the app
- Implement alerts for when relatives contribute to accounts
- Support for tracking multiple 529 accounts across different states


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TIAA free?

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

### Is READYSAVE 529 free?

READYSAVE 529 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TIAA or READYSAVE 529?

READYSAVE 529 is rated higher. TIAA averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.3K ratings, while READYSAVE 529 averages 4.7 from 30K ratings.

### Do TIAA or READYSAVE 529 have ads?

Neither TIAA nor READYSAVE 529 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TIAA or READYSAVE 529?

TIAA ships an update monthly, and READYSAVE 529 monthly. Most recently, TIAA was updated on October 29, 2026 and READYSAVE 529 on October 29, 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.*