# GroupMe vs Schools App

The clearest difference is rating: GroupMe at 4.7 against Schools App's 1.9. GroupMe also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.6M vs 210). Schools App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GroupMe sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Schools App asks for nothing beyond the download.

GroupMe holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GroupMe has 1.6M ratings behind it against 210, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of GroupMe's written reviews are positive against 14% of Schools App's.

GroupMe ships an update weekly, Schools App every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 15, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GroupMe | Schools App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews)** | [1.9 (210 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schools-app/id495845755/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.6M** | 210 |
| Positive reviews | **29.7% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 389 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) | [TargetX.Com LLC Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1144175087) |

## What reviewers say

### GroupMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Easily connect with friends, family, and colleagues through group chats, direct messages, and shared media. Add anyone via phone or email, control notifications, and express yourself with custom emojis and internet content.

**Highlights:** Add contacts via phone number or email, SMS chat for non-app users, Customizable notifications, Exclusive emoji and GIF support, Shared media gallery, Direct messaging, Web access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Most Wanted Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Michigan Wolverines Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wisconsin Badgers Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Florida Gators Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| March Madness Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Most Wanted 2 Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| University of Alabama Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Texas Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Adventure Time | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Notre Dame Emoji | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent group communication
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🚀 Reliable
- 👍 Versatile for various use cases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Syncing and loading issues
- 🐛 Notification problems
- 🐛 Bugs with media uploads
- 🐛 Laggy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or account issues
- Problems with adding/removing group members
- Disappearing messages and chat history
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete/edit messages
- Announcement mode for admins
- Pinned messages
- Improved group management features
- Better cross-device/platform sync


### Schools App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schools-app/id495845755)

Connect with fellow students at your college or university before and during your academic journey. Discover new friends, join study groups, and stay informed about important campus announcements.

**Highlights:** Student Directory, Activity Feed, Study Group Finder, Group Messaging, Private Messaging, Roommate Finder, Announcements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for meeting people
- 👍 Good for networking
- 👍 Connects with school staff
- 👍 Potential for meeting roommates

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Requires Facebook login
- ❌ Login errors persist
- ❌ App is broken/unusable
- ❌ No other login options
- ❌ Internet connection issues

**Reported bugs**

- Login errors (User not allowed, app in development)
- Facebook login not working
- App freezes or crashes
- Help page submit button not working
- Account inactive errors

**Requested features**

- Add alternative login options (email, Twitter, Insta, Google)
- Fix login errors and 'app not setup' issues
- Improve notification reliability
- Add a block/mute feature
- Allow profile access from messages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GroupMe free?

GroupMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Schools App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GroupMe or Schools App?

GroupMe is rated higher. GroupMe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Schools App averages 1.9 from 210 ratings.

### Do GroupMe or Schools App have ads?

Neither GroupMe nor Schools App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GroupMe or Schools App?

GroupMe ships an update weekly, and Schools App every 2 months. Most recently, GroupMe was updated on November 15, 2026 and Schools App on November 1, 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.*