# College Search Guide vs CollegeData

The clearest difference is rating: College Search Guide at 4.4 against CollegeData's 3.3. College Search Guide also leads on ratings volume (431 vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). CollegeData's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. College Search Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CollegeData asks for nothing beyond the download.

College Search Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: College Search Guide has 431 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

College Search Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, CollegeData every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | College Search Guide | CollegeData |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (431 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/college-search-guide/id364820872/reviews)** | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collegedata/id1444423749/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **431** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 38.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 131 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dorm Mom LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/325594167) | [1st Financial Bank USA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117952359) |

## What reviewers say

### College Search Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/college-search-guide/id364820872)

Discover and research over 7000 U.S. colleges, from large universities to trade schools. Find detailed information on degrees, costs, financial aid, admissions, and more. Bookmark favorites and apply directly.

**Highlights:** Search colleges by location and distance, View colleges near current location, Detailed college profiles, Information on degrees and majors, Financial aid and expense details, Admissions and application info, User reviews and bookmarking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Advanced Features | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Comprehensive college database with detailed information
- 🗺️ Useful map display for college locations
- 🔍 Advanced search and filter functionality
- 📊 Ability to compare colleges side-by-side
- 👍 User-friendly interface (when working properly)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent and persistent crashes
- ⚠️ Cannot sort by multiple majors simultaneously (OR only, no AND)
- 🐢 Slow loading times
- ❌ Outdated admissions data (2017 data vs current)
- 🔐 Email verification loop prevents account access

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or during searches
- Crashes when selecting multiple filter options
- Crashes when viewing college addresses
- Loading bar spins indefinitely
- Email verification never arrives

**Requested features**

- Sort by multiple majors using AND functionality
- Search by GPA in addition to SAT scores
- Graduate program support (Masters, Doctorate)
- Study abroad program search option
- Note-taking and pro/con list feature


### CollegeData

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collegedata/id1444423749)

This app helps students research and compare colleges, estimate admission chances, and find scholarships. It provides tools to track deadlines, academic credentials, and build a college resume for informed decision-making.

**Highlights:** College search and comparison, Admission chance calculator, Scholarship finder, Application deadline tracker, Personalized dashboard, Financial aid information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is College Search Guide free?

College Search Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CollegeData free?

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

### Which has better reviews, College Search Guide or CollegeData?

College Search Guide is rated higher. College Search Guide averages 4.4 out of 5 from 431 ratings, while CollegeData averages 3.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do College Search Guide or CollegeData have ads?

Neither College Search Guide nor CollegeData shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, College Search Guide or CollegeData?

College Search Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and CollegeData every 2 months. Most recently, College Search Guide was updated on November 1, 2026 and CollegeData on November 2, 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.*