Skyward Mobile Access vs ParentSquare
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Skyward Mobile Access
Access student grades, attendance, discipline, payroll, and time off information on the go. This app connects directly to your school's Skyward system for instant updates.
- Student grades
- Attendance tracking
- Discipline records
- Payroll information
- Time off requests
- Automatic district location
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Skyward Mobile Access provides intuitive access for students, parents, and school staff that currently use Skyward’s Family Access, Student Access, or Employee Access. Skyward Mobile Access will automatically locate your district and take you instantly to your vital information such as grades, attendance, discipline, payroll, time off, and more! Please contact appsupport@skyward.com with questions, comments or concerns about the app. Note: Your school district must activate Skyward Mobile Access Automatic Setup in order for this application to locate your school district and connect to it.
ParentSquare
This app connects schools and families, providing a central hub for communication and information. Families can receive important alerts, view school news, and message teachers directly. It aims to keep everyone informed and engaged to support student success.
- Centralized school and family communication
- Receive school news, alerts, and messages
- Direct messaging with teachers and staff
- View classroom updates and photos
- Respond to absences or tardies
- Pay school fees and invoices
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What is ParentSquare? ParentSquare helps schools and families stay connected and informed—all in one easy place. Whether it’s a quick message from a teacher, an important alert from the district, or a reminder about tomorrow’s field trip, ParentSquare makes sure families never miss a thing. Why families and teachers love ParentSquare: • Simple, easy-to-use app and website • Messages are automatically translated into 190+ languages • Best-in-class safety and security practices • One place for all school updates, alerts, and messages With ParentSquare, families and staff save time and stay connected—so everyone can focus on helping students succeed. ParentSquare for iOS The ParentSquare app makes it easy for families to stay in the loop and engage with their child’s school community. With the app, parents and guardians can: • See school news, classroom updates, and photos • Receive important notices like attendance alerts and cafeteria balances • Message teachers and staff directly • Join group conversations • Sign up for wishlist items, volunteering, and conferences • Respond to absences or tardies* • Pay school-related fees and invoices* * If included with your school's implementation
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ParentSquare at 4.6 against Skyward Mobile Access's 1.8. ParentSquare also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 14%) and ratings volume (78K vs 3.7K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ParentSquare holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParentSquare has 78K ratings behind it against 3.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Skyward Mobile Access's written reviews are positive against 50% of ParentSquare's.
Skyward Mobile Access ships an update fortnightly, ParentSquare weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Skyward Mobile Access | ParentSquare |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (3.7K ratings) | 4.6 (78K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 13.8% of reviews | 49.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.7K | 78K — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #47 | #5 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 154 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Skyward Inc | ParentSquare |
Customer experience
Skyward Mobile Access
ParentSquare
User reviews
Skyward Mobile Access
From 3.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful for checking grades
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure with Face ID/password
- 💡 Convenient mobile access to school information
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🤯 Confusing and outdated user interface
- 😡 Unreliable notifications and sync issues
- 🤔 Inconsistent functionality between app and website
ParentSquare
From 78K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💬 Helpful communication tool
- 🗓️ Keeps parents informed
- 🤝 Facilitates parent-teacher interaction
- 📤 Streamlines notifications and updates
- 🧭 Centralizes school information
Room to improve
- 🤯 Overwhelming notifications
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information
- 🔒 Login and access issues
- 🐌 Slow performance and glitches
- 🤖 Lacks customization and user control
Bugs and requests
Skyward Mobile Access
Reported bugs
4 issues- Login issues and accounts getting locked out
- Inability to access grades and school information
- Blank screens and app freezes
- Notification icon not clearing even after reading messages
Requested features
4 requests- GPA calculator
- More detailed grade and assignment information
- Improved notification system
- Streamlined navigation and user experience
ParentSquare
Reported bugs
5 issues- Notification issues and delays
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices
- Login problems and lost user sessions
- Attachment and media viewing difficulties
- Syncing and data display errors
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to filter and customize notifications
- Improved search and organization of content
- Integration with other school/student platforms
- Enhanced mobile app functionality
- Parent-teacher group messaging capabilities
In-app purchases
Skyward Mobile Access
No in-app purchases
ParentSquare
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Skyward Mobile Access free?
Is ParentSquare free?
Which has better reviews, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?
Do Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare have ads?
Which is updated more often, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?
Which is more popular, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?
Other comparisons
