Comparison

MyState vs Penn State Go

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MyState

This app serves as a comprehensive student toolkit, offering essential information and features for navigating university life. It provides real-time updates on campus transportation, dining options, class schedules, and campus events. Students can also access a directory, library services, and campus maps to enhance their academic and social experience.

Highlights
  • Customizable dashboard
  • Class schedule and GPA calculator
  • Real-time bus arrival predictions
  • Dining hall hours and menus
  • Campus directory and map
  • Student organization discovery
  • Library catalog and account management
Features
Read full description

Cyclone Nation, meet MyState. MyState is the ultimate student toolkit to help you get the most out of your adventure at Iowa State. Use MyState to catch the next bus, locate your next class, see what's to eat, quickly find your instructor's office, and much more! + Dashboard - Quickly see information to start your adventure. Weather, CyRide, Classes, Dining, and more! Customize the Dashboard just for you. + Classes - View your class schedule, including locations and instructors. Calculate your GPA or check the line at testing centers and see their hours. + CyRide - Check to see when busses are scheduled to arrive at any of the bus stops in Ames, with arrival predictions from MyRide. + Dining - Find operating hours and menus for any dining location on campus. + Directory - Easily find individuals and offices on campus. + Events - See which exciting official ISU events are going on in the area. + Fairs - Prepare for and navigate career and other fairs by marking booths as favorites and seeing them on a map of the fair locations. + Library - View your checked-out items, holds, and fines; find locations and hours; search the main library catalog. + Map - Find buildings, dining locations, art on campus, testing centers, recreation centers, and more! + News - Read and share the latest updates from across campus. + Photostream - Check out user-submitted photos of the Iowa State campus. + StuOrgs - Discover, join, and subscribe to student orgs. Manage existing org memberships and subscriptions. + Testing Centers - View Testing Center locations and availability. + More - Stream KURE 88.5 along with other fun extras! MyState. Built by students, for students!

About

Penn State Go

This app provides a personalized hub for the Penn State community, offering access to academic tools, campus life management, important updates, and essential resources. It helps users stay informed and connected with campus services and events.

Highlights
  • Personalized homepage with campus weather
  • Academic calendar and course updates
  • Campus dining and meal plan management
  • Access to PSU email and student ID
  • Campus event discovery and alerts
  • Campus maps and shuttle tracking
  • Health, wellness, and safety resources
Features
Read full description

Penn State Go is the official mobile app of Penn State. The app connects you with the tools, services, and updates that matter most. With a personalized homepage, Penn State Go greets you with the current date and campus weather, and highlights timely content based on your experience. STAY ON TOP OF ACADEMICS • LionPATH: Check grades, class schedules, tuition bills, and more • Canvas: View course updates, announcements, to-do items, messages, and grades • Academic Calendar: Track key academic dates and semester milestones • Starfish: Connect with your adviser and receive academic alerts • Countdown Widget: Track upcoming deadlines, events, and breaks MANAGE CAMPUS LIFE • PSU Email: Quick access to your Penn State email account • id+ Card: View LionCash and meal plan balances, manage transactions, and update plans • Dining: Order food on the go, view past orders, and manage payment methods • Housing: View your current housing assignment and meal plan, with quick access to housing resources STAY INFORMED AND CONNECTED • Messages: Get personalized push notifications and in-app alerts based on your college, housing, meal plan, international status, and more • Events Calendars: Discover campus events and filter by your academic college or interests • Special Events: Stay up to date on Arrival Week, THON, Homecoming, Commencement, Welcome Week, and more • Digital Signage: View content from campus digital signage, directly in the app • News: Catch up on the latest updates from across the Penn State community SUPPORT AND SAFETY • Wellness: Find campus health, counseling, and fitness resources • Safety: Access emergency contacts, safety tips, and campus services CAMPUS RESOURCES • Maps: Explore buildings, departments, services, and parking • Shuttles: Get live updates on Penn State and CATA shuttle routes • Library: Search library catalogs and access academic resources • Paw Prints: Use pay-as-you-go printing services on campus You can also share your Penn State pride with Penn State Go Sticker Packs in Messages. Penn State Go is available to students, faculty, staff, parents and families, and alumni. While some features are designed for students, the app provides valuable tools and information for the entire Penn State community. Whether you’re managing your classes, supporting a student, or staying connected to your alma mater, Penn State Go helps you stay in the know and on the go.

Screenshots

MyState4 screens
Penn State Go4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Penn State Go at 45% against MyState's 28%. MyState's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MyState versus Penn State Go: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMyStatePenn State Go
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (79 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews27.5% of reviews45.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings79 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB18 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperIowa State University of Science and TechnologyThe Pennsylvania State University

Customer experience

MyState

All ratings79 ratings
Positive46.8%
Neutral7.6%
Negative45.6%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive27.5%
Neutral20.0%
Negative52.5%

Penn State Go

Written reviews40 reviews
Positive45.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative47.5%

Bugs and requests

MyState

Reported bugs

43 issues
  • Bus tracker estimates off by 10-15 minutes
  • Bus tracker states no buses when there are
  • App crashes when opening
  • Class schedule issues persist
  • Bus tracker not showing buses
Show 38 more
  • Dining hall hours inaccurate
  • Bus tracker times inaccurate
  • App crashes when pressing bus stop on map
  • App crashes immediately without opening
  • App opens to main page then shuts down
  • App crashes after new update
  • App won't open after update
  • App crashes when loading
  • App shows blank white screen on login
  • App endlessly tries to sign in then crashes
  • App crashes whenever
  • App won't load anything
  • App crashes when trying to view schedule
  • App freezes on installation
  • Map randomly zooms out
  • Map doesn't stay in hybrid/satellite mode
  • CyRide section crashes if no other bus predicted
  • CyRide section crashes if bus not running
  • CyRide section shows wrong bus times
  • CyRide section arrival times not available for all stops
  • Class schedule messed up
  • Calendar sync adds classes at wrong time
  • Calendar upload button doesn't work
  • Cannot log in to email
  • App crashes when trying to enter system privacy settings
  • Anonymous usage statistics option resets
  • Map doesn't load
  • Dining section doesn't work
  • Login screen freezes
  • App crashes on splash screen
  • App crashes on welcome page
  • App crashes when opening after update
  • Bus routes annoying to figure out
  • New bus schedule doesn't show bus type or arrival time
  • Bus stops in alphabetical order
  • Laundry availability not functioning correctly
  • App crashes when opening on older devices
  • App crashes when opening on iPhone 2nd gen iPod touch

Requested features

20 requests
  • Add support for alumni
  • Third-party access for Ubill
  • More accurate bus times
  • Show all bus stops on map
  • Add parking information
Show 15 more
  • Add date, time, and weather to dashboard
  • Add computer lab availability
  • Restore dining center hours and menus
  • Add iPad version
  • Link to night/final exam schedules
  • Offline bus schedule option
  • Campus map with buildings
  • Restore Cyride functionality from old app
  • Add 'My Bus Stops' tab
  • Option to change bus stop order
  • Support for summer Cyride schedules
  • Fix time zone issues for class schedule
  • Improve bus route navigation
  • Add dark mode
  • More practical Cyride interface

Penn State Go

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

MyState

No in-app purchases

None

Penn State Go

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MyState free?
MyState is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Penn State Go free?
Penn State Go is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MyState or Penn State Go have ads?
Neither MyState nor Penn State Go shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MyState or Penn State Go?
MyState ships an update every 3 months, and Penn State Go every 3 months. Most recently, MyState was updated on October 16, 2026 and Penn State Go on October 16, 2026.

Other comparisons