# IU Mobile vs 5 Star Life

The clearest difference is rating: 5 Star Life at 4.5 against IU Mobile's 3.9. IU Mobile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 5 Star Life sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. IU Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

5 Star Life holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IU Mobile has 187 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IU Mobile | 5 Star Life |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iu-mobile/id383456985/reviews) | **[4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-star-life/id1636894294/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **187** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Indiana University](https://appshunter.io/developer/383456988) | [Five Star Life, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631381132) |

## 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


### 5 Star Life

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-star-life/id1636894294)

This app provides character and mindset lessons for children and adults, addressing challenges like managing emotions, building confidence, and critical thinking. It uses engaging video curriculum and activities to foster positive growth mindsets and transform perspectives.

**Highlights:** Character and mindset development, Video curriculum, Age-appropriate lessons (K-12+), Emotional management, Goal setting, Confidence building, Critical thinking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $0.99/mo Basic Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| $4.99/mo Premium Plan | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IU Mobile free?

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

### Is 5 Star Life free?

5 Star Life is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IU Mobile or 5 Star Life?

5 Star Life is rated higher. IU Mobile averages 3.9 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while 5 Star Life averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do IU Mobile or 5 Star Life have ads?

5 Star Life shows ads; IU Mobile does not.

### Which is updated more often, IU Mobile or 5 Star Life?

IU Mobile ships an update monthly, and 5 Star Life monthly. Most recently, IU Mobile was updated on November 1, 2026 and 5 Star Life on October 13, 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.*