# IU Mobile vs Sarah Tricker Alchemy

IU Mobile and Sarah Tricker Alchemy are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

IU Mobile ships an update monthly, Sarah Tricker Alchemy fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IU Mobile | Sarah Tricker Alchemy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iu-mobile/id383456985/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **187** | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 63 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Indiana University](https://appshunter.io/developer/383456988) | [Sarah Tricker](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775227025) |

## 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


### Sarah Tricker Alchemy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sarah-tricker-alchemy/id6737201268)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IU Mobile free?

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

### Is Sarah Tricker Alchemy free?

Sarah Tricker Alchemy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do IU Mobile or Sarah Tricker Alchemy have ads?

Neither IU Mobile nor Sarah Tricker Alchemy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IU Mobile or Sarah Tricker Alchemy?

IU Mobile ships an update monthly, and Sarah Tricker Alchemy fortnightly. Most recently, IU Mobile was updated on October 23, 2026 and Sarah Tricker Alchemy on October 25, 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.*