# IU Mobile vs Penji

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Penji at 93% against IU Mobile's 36%. Penji also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Penji holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penji has 1.2K ratings behind it against 187, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of IU Mobile's written reviews are positive against 93% of Penji's.

IU Mobile ships an update monthly, Penji every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IU Mobile | Penji |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iu-mobile/id383456985/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penji/id1030060714/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 187 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews | **92.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 63 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Indiana University](https://appshunter.io/developer/383456988) | [Penji, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030060713) |

## What reviewers say

### IU Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iu-mobile/id383456985)

This app serves as a central hub for Indiana University students, consolidating essential information and services from various university systems. It provides a personalized experience to help students navigate their academic journey, access updates, and find support.

**Highlights:** University message center, Access to updates and services, Search for support, Content from Knowledge base, People, One.IU, Personalized student experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy navigation and user-friendly interface
- ⚡ Quick access to essential campus resources
- 🎓 Helpful for new students finding classes and campus
- 🚌 Useful bus tracking and schedule features
- 💳 Convenient digital Crimson Card access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezes
- 🔐 Constant forced re-authentication and logouts
- ⏳ Slow loading times and unresponsive performance
- 🌐 Functions as a web wrapper rather than native app
- 📵 Poor mobile optimization and screen compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or during use
- Login loops - requires re-authentication constantly
- Update required message with no available update
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Screen rotation issues on iPad

**Requested features**

- Save username and password securely
- Biometric login (Face ID/fingerprint)
- Grade book access
- Reply to class messages functionality
- Faculty-specific features for instructors


### Penji

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penji/id1030060714)

Connect with campus support services like tutoring, advising, and mentoring. Schedule appointments, join drop-in hours, and find study groups to enhance your academic journey. This app provides a modern, mobile-first experience for accessing university resources.

**Highlights:** Schedule tutors and mentors, Attend drop-in hours, Register for group sessions, Find study groups, Access advising resources, Remote-friendly support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient scheduling
- 🚀 Helpful for tutoring
- 💡 Useful for improving grades
- 🙌 Great tutors and support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and technical issues
- 💬 Messaging features need improvement
- 🤔 Penalty for missed appointments

**Reported bugs**

- Unusable on iPad
- Tutors not showing as available

**Requested features**

- Add voice/call features
- Improve messaging and notifications


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IU Mobile free?

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

### Is Penji free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IU Mobile or Penji?

Penji is rated higher. IU Mobile averages 3.9 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while Penji averages 4.9 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do IU Mobile or Penji have ads?

Neither IU Mobile nor Penji shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IU Mobile or Penji?

IU Mobile ships an update monthly, and Penji every 9 days. Most recently, IU Mobile was updated on October 23, 2026 and Penji on October 22, 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.*