# Smart Board vs The Commons

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Commons at none against Smart Board's 1. The Commons also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Board sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. The Commons asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Board ships an update every 5 weeks, The Commons fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Board | The Commons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.3 (230 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **230** |
| Positive reviews | — | 13.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 61 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ceyda bulak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852316171) | [The Commons, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815629327) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Board

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-board-management/id6463125000)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Subscription | $2.99 | per month |


### The Commons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591)

This app helps students stay focused during school hours by pausing access to distracting apps like social media and games. It automatically activates at school and deactivates when the day ends, ensuring essential academic and communication apps remain accessible. It prioritizes privacy with no tracking or data collection.

**Highlights:** Automatic focus activation at school, Blocks distracting apps during school hours, Keeps essential academic apps accessible, Privacy-first with no tracking, Builds stronger tech habits

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helps students focus on school work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Blocks access to social media and communication apps
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with VPN and data tracking
- 🐛 Causes issues with phone functionality
- 🤬 Perceived as an unnecessary and intrusive app

**Reported bugs**

- VPN doesn't work properly when traveling
- Slows down messaging and other apps

**Requested features**

- Allow access to certain apps during school hours
- Improve VPN functionality when traveling
- Provide more transparency on data collection and usage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Board free?

Smart Board is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Commons free?

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

### Do Smart Board or The Commons have ads?

Neither Smart Board nor The Commons shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Board or The Commons?

Smart Board ships an update every 5 weeks, and The Commons fortnightly. Most recently, Smart Board was updated on September 25, 2026 and The Commons 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.*