# StudentFM vs Merv

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StudentFM at none against Merv's 2. StudentFM also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.5). Merv's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merv sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. StudentFM asks for nothing beyond the download.

StudentFM ships an update every 5 months, Merv fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StudentFM | Merv |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Size | 32 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Student Facility Management Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751898073) | [Protective IQ Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803557144) |

## What reviewers say

### StudentFM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/studentfm/id6504339429)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merv/id6749407173)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access (1 Month) | $9.99 | per month |
| All Access (1 Year) | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StudentFM free?

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

### Is Merv free?

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

### Do StudentFM or Merv have ads?

Neither StudentFM nor Merv shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StudentFM or Merv?

StudentFM ships an update every 5 months, and Merv fortnightly. Most recently, StudentFM was updated on September 26, 2026 and Merv on October 15, 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.*