# PALCS vs Gauge

The clearest difference is rating: Gauge at 5.0 against PALCS's 3.3. Gauge also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 months). PALCS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gauge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PALCS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gauge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PALCS has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PALCS ships an update every 4 months, Gauge every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PALCS | Gauge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palcs/id6474450096/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gauge-water-operator-prep/id6803531173/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 81 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612475272) | [OMAR DANIEL GRAZIANO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896485759) |

## What reviewers say

### PALCS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palcs/id6474450096)

This app allows parents to actively participate in their child's academic journey. It offers real-time updates on progress, personalized messages, and important school announcements and alerts.

**Highlights:** Academic progress tracking, Personalized parent messages, School announcements, Critical notices and alerts, Division-specific updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Gauge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gauge-water-operator-prep/id6803531173)

Prepare for wastewater operator certification exams with a focus on the math section. This app offers free calculators for essential formulas and provides step-by-step solutions to common mistakes. Practice with timed exams that mirror the actual test format and weighting.

**Highlights:** Free operator math calculators, Step-by-step worked solutions, Timed practice exams, Formula selection drills, Offline functionality, Exam blueprint adherence

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PALCS free?

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

### Is Gauge free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PALCS or Gauge?

Gauge is rated higher. PALCS averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Gauge averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PALCS or Gauge have ads?

Neither PALCS nor Gauge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PALCS or Gauge?

PALCS ships an update every 4 months, and Gauge every 8 days. Most recently, PALCS was updated on October 14, 2026 and Gauge on October 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.*