# The Commons vs CourseSLM

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CourseSLM at 100% against The Commons's 13%. CourseSLM also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.3). The Commons's advantage is ratings volume (327 vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CourseSLM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Commons has 327 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of The Commons's written reviews are positive against 100% of CourseSLM's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Commons | CourseSLM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (327 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/courseslm/id6784030336/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **327** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 12.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 55 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Commons, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815629327) | [AVELA - A Vision for Engineering Literacy & Access](https://appshunter.io/developer/6784030338) |

## 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


### CourseSLM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/courseslm/id6784030336)

This AI teaching assistant helps educators create custom chatbots for their courses, grounded in specific lesson materials. Students can use it to review concepts and get help within the context of their studies, offering a focused and responsible learning tool.

**Highlights:** Course-specific AI chat, Upload instructor materials (PDFs), Privacy-preserving design, Classroom-centered customization, Contextual learning support, AI-powered review and clarification

**Features:** 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 CourseSLM free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Commons or CourseSLM?

CourseSLM is rated higher. The Commons averages 1.3 out of 5 from 327 ratings, while CourseSLM averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do The Commons or CourseSLM have ads?

Neither The Commons nor CourseSLM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Commons or CourseSLM?

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, and CourseSLM every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Commons was updated on October 17, 2026 and CourseSLM on October 2, 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.*