# Skyward Mobile Access vs ParentSquare

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.

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 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Skyward Mobile Access | ParentSquare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyward-mobile-access/id502635374/reviews) | **[4.6 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.7K | **78K** |
| Positive reviews | 13.8% of reviews | **49.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #46 | **#5** |
| Size | 37 MB | 154 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skyward Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/502635377) | [ParentSquare](https://appshunter.io/developer/908126682) |

## What reviewers say

### Skyward Mobile Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyward-mobile-access/id502635374)

**Currently charting:** #46 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Student grades, Attendance tracking, Discipline records, Payroll information, Time off requests, Automatic district location

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for checking grades
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure with Face ID/password
- 💡 Convenient mobile access to school information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🤯 Confusing and outdated user interface
- 😡 Unreliable notifications and sync issues
- 🤔 Inconsistent functionality between app and website

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- GPA calculator
- More detailed grade and assignment information
- Improved notification system
- Streamlined navigation and user experience


### ParentSquare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Education, #172 Top Free (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Helpful communication tool
- 🗓️ Keeps parents informed
- 🤝 Facilitates parent-teacher interaction
- 📤 Streamlines notifications and updates
- 🧭 Centralizes school information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Overwhelming notifications
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information
- 🔒 Login and access issues
- 🐌 Slow performance and glitches
- 🤖 Lacks customization and user control

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Skyward Mobile Access free?

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

### Is ParentSquare free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?

ParentSquare is rated higher. Skyward Mobile Access averages 1.8 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while ParentSquare averages 4.6 from 78K ratings.

### Do Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare have ads?

Neither Skyward Mobile Access nor ParentSquare shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?

Skyward Mobile Access ships an update fortnightly, and ParentSquare weekly. Most recently, Skyward Mobile Access was updated on September 23, 2026 and ParentSquare on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Skyward Mobile Access or ParentSquare?

Skyward Mobile Access currently peaks at #46 in the App Store charts, and ParentSquare at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*