# School Gateway vs Parentapps Connect

The clearest difference is rating: School Gateway at 2.5 against Parentapps Connect's 2.0. Parentapps Connect's advantage is review sentiment (36% vs 16%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

School Gateway holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of School Gateway's written reviews are positive against 36% of Parentapps Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

School Gateway ships an update every 6 weeks, Parentapps Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | School Gateway | Parentapps Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/school-gateway/id596039615/reviews)** | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentapps-connect/id1440730909/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 15.7% of reviews | **35.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ISUZ Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/596039618) | [VenturEd Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811371542) |

## What reviewers say

### School Gateway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/school-gateway/id596039615)

This app streamlines communication and management of your child's school life. It allows parents to receive messages, make payments for school items, manage dinner money, book clubs, and view academic reports and attendance. All your children's school information is consolidated in one place.

**Highlights:** Receive school messages, Make school payments, Manage dinner money, Book school clubs, View reports and timetable, Monitor attendance, Update contact details

**In-app purchases:** none


### Parentapps Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentapps-connect/id1440730909)

Streamline communication between parents and schools with a comprehensive platform. Easily report absences, manage consent forms, and stay updated on school events and messages. Connect with teachers and receive important notifications directly through the app.

**Highlights:** Absence reporting, Electronic consent forms, Multiple family member access, Calendar and term dates, Electronic newsletters, Messaging, Parents evening booking

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Centralized information source
- 👍 Easy to use (when working)
- 👍 Useful for school communication
- 👍 Calendar integration
- 👍 Reduces paper usage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constantly crashing
- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 App not opening
- 🐛 Messages not coming through
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on opening
- App closes immediately after opening
- Cannot log in
- App not finding school
- Login loop

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete read messages
- Print function for newsletters/homework
- Fingerprint access
- Flag/favorite messages
- Option for step-parents


## Frequently asked questions

### Is School Gateway free?

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

### Is Parentapps Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, School Gateway or Parentapps Connect?

School Gateway is rated higher. School Gateway averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Parentapps Connect averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do School Gateway or Parentapps Connect have ads?

Neither School Gateway nor Parentapps Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, School Gateway or Parentapps Connect?

School Gateway ships an update every 6 weeks, and Parentapps Connect every 2 months. Most recently, School Gateway was updated on September 24, 2026 and Parentapps Connect on September 23, 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.*