# The Commons vs BeThere Schools

The clearest difference is rating: BeThere Schools at 5.0 against The Commons's 1.3. The Commons's advantage is ratings volume (347 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). 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.

BeThere Schools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Commons has 347 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, BeThere Schools every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Commons | BeThere Schools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (347 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bethere-schools/id6796441891/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **347** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 12.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 55 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Commons, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815629327) | [Detezo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729985909) |

## 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


### BeThere Schools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bethere-schools/id6796441891)

This app helps schools enforce phone-free environments by automatically restricting phone access during school hours and on campus. It allows students to maintain normal phone use outside of these times and ensures access to essential school-approved apps.

**Highlights:** Automatic phone restrictions during school hours, Geofencing for campus-wide enforcement, No device collection or pouches required, Student-initiated setup, Centralized school management, Access to essential apps

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Commons free?

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

### Is BeThere Schools free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Commons or BeThere Schools?

BeThere Schools is rated higher. The Commons averages 1.3 out of 5 from 347 ratings, while BeThere Schools averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do The Commons or BeThere Schools have ads?

Neither The Commons nor BeThere Schools shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Commons or BeThere Schools?

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, and BeThere Schools every 11 days. Most recently, The Commons was updated on October 24, 2026 and BeThere Schools on October 20, 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.*