# Beachsafe vs Compass School Manager

The clearest difference is update cadence: Compass School Manager at every 3 weeks against Beachsafe's every 6 months. Compass School Manager also leads on ratings volume (164 vs 3). Beachsafe's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (46% vs 37%). 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.

Beachsafe holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass School Manager has 164 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Beachsafe's written reviews are positive against 37% of Compass School Manager's.

Beachsafe ships an update every 6 months, Compass School Manager every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beachsafe | Compass School Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachsafe/id397699623/reviews)** | [4.7 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-school-manager/id778415974/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **164** |
| Positive reviews | **46.5% of reviews** | 36.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 100 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surf Life Saving Australia Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/397699626) | [Compass Operations Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/778415977) |

## What reviewers say

### Beachsafe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachsafe/id397699623)

Discover Australian beaches with real-time information on surf conditions, weather, hazards, and lifesaving services. Find patrolled beaches, learn about safety, and get expert advice on rip currents and marine life.

**Highlights:** Find nearby beaches with GPS, View surf, weather, and tide forecasts, Check patrol service information, Identify beach hazards and warnings, Access surf safety advice, Save favorite beaches

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great info on beach conditions
- 👍 Useful for planning beach days
- 👍 Provides vital safety information
- 👍 Comprehensive beach details
- 👍 Good for discovering new beaches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently fails to load
- 🐛 Information is often inaccurate/outdated
- 🐛 Search functionality is poor
- 🐛 Updates have made the app worse
- 🐛 Requires account creation for basic features

**Reported bugs**

- App stuck on loading screen
- Algal bloom report button does nothing
- Photo quality makes beaches look clean
- Search no longer works correctly
- Beach closure information incorrect

**Requested features**

- Integrate beachwatch pollution data
- Add Face ID authentication
- Improve photo quality
- Fix algal bloom report button
- Provide reasons for beach closures


### Compass School Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-school-manager/id778415974)

This app offers a centralized platform for school-related information, including news, events, and assignments. It serves as a communication tool for staff, students, and parents, streamlining access to important school updates.

**Highlights:** School news and events, Assignment tracking, Communication platform, Access for staff, students, and parents, Centralized information hub

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Convenient for school management
- 🚀 Helpful for students and parents
- 🚀 Reliable and efficient
- 👍 Great app for school information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔑 Login issues and session expiration
- 🤔 Confusing and cluttered UI
- 🤖 Compatibility issues on Mac devices
- 🙄 Constant need to update the app

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or search for school
- Notifications not working as expected
- Learning tasks page layout issues
- Landscape mode not functioning properly
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve navigation and organization
- Allow students to remove submissions
- Show class rosters within each class
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beachsafe free?

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

### Is Compass School Manager free?

Compass School Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Beachsafe or Compass School Manager?

Beachsafe is rated higher. Beachsafe averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Compass School Manager averages 4.7 from 164 ratings.

### Do Beachsafe or Compass School Manager have ads?

Neither Beachsafe nor Compass School Manager shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beachsafe or Compass School Manager?

Beachsafe ships an update every 6 months, and Compass School Manager every 3 weeks. Most recently, Beachsafe was updated on November 13, 2026 and Compass School Manager on November 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.*