# CSULB App vs SMC Go

The clearest difference is update cadence: CSULB App at every 2 months against SMC Go's every 12 months. CSULB App also leads on ratings volume (550 vs 17) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CSULB App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CSULB App has 550 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of CSULB App's written reviews are positive against 67% of SMC Go's.

CSULB App ships an update every 2 months, SMC Go every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CSULB App | SMC Go |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (550 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/csulb-app/id574018799/reviews)** | [4.3 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smc-go/id1265157294/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **550** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **72.6% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 58 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CSU Long Beach](https://appshunter.io/developer/890490600) | [Santa Monica Community College District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265157293) |

## What reviewers say

### CSULB App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/csulb-app/id574018799)

Manage your academic life and connect with your campus community. Stay organized with event and class schedules, receive important notifications, and access campus resources. Discover activities, join groups, and navigate campus easily.

**Highlights:** Event and class calendar, Academic tools access, Deadline reminders, Campus event discovery, Campus services information, Push notifications, Campus map

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Fast and convenient access to courses
- 📱 Useful BeachBoard integration
- 🎓 Helpful for new students
- 🏫 Good campus information and resources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues and logouts
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Slow GPS/map performance
- 🚧 Campus construction causing accessibility issues
- 💰 Expensive tuition and parking costs

**Reported bugs**

- Automatic logout upon login
- Double login requirement for BeachBoard
- Content not loading in tabs
- Desktop version of BeachBoard instead of mobile
- Page refresh losing user position in documents

**Requested features**

- Stay logged in option across sessions
- Simultaneous multi-device login capability
- Event and athletic notification system
- Mobile-optimized BeachBoard version
- Document access and printing from classes


### SMC Go

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smc-go/id1265157294)

This official college app helps students navigate their academic journey. It provides resources, tips, and tools to manage daily tasks, connect with the campus community, and achieve educational goals.

**Highlights:** Ask Pearl virtual assistant, Quick Links to resources, Class finding assistance, Message Channels for communication, Events & Workshops listings, Pearl's Marketplace, Programs & Services information, Student Life updates

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CSULB App free?

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

### Is SMC Go free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CSULB App or SMC Go?

CSULB App is rated higher. CSULB App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 550 ratings, while SMC Go averages 4.3 from 17 ratings.

### Do CSULB App or SMC Go have ads?

Neither CSULB App nor SMC Go shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CSULB App or SMC Go?

CSULB App ships an update every 2 months, and SMC Go every 12 months. Most recently, CSULB App was updated on August 22, 2026 and SMC Go on September 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.*