# The Commons vs Squid Academy

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Commons at every 3 weeks against Squid Academy's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, Squid Academy every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Commons | Squid Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.3 (327 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **327** | — |
| Positive reviews | 12.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 55 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Commons, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815629327) | [Squid Academy Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6776986017) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Squid Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squid-academy/id6776986015)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Commons free?

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

### Is Squid Academy free?

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

### Do The Commons or Squid Academy have ads?

Neither The Commons nor Squid Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Commons or Squid Academy?

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, and Squid Academy every 6 weeks. Most recently, The Commons was updated on October 13, 2026 and Squid Academy on October 3, 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.*