CSUN vs SMC Go
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CSUN
This app provides a comprehensive mobile gateway to California State University, Northridge resources. It offers features for students, faculty, staff, and alumni, including academic support, campus navigation, event information, and administrative services. The redesigned interface enhances user experience for accessing campus life.
- 3D Interactive Campus Map
- Events Calendar
- Academic Support Resources
- Financial Aid Information
- Class Schedule and Search
- Parking Permit Purchase
- Shuttle Information
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CSUN Mobile App Welcome to the official CSUN app, your gateway to all things California State University, Northridge! Designed to make accessing campus services and resources a breeze, this app caters to current and prospective students, alums and Matador fans alike. We hope you'll love what we have to offer. What's New (May 2024) The CSUN Mobile App has been completely redesigned! Enjoy fresh, modern visuals, a reorganized layout and an improved user experience. The app will continue to evolve to enhance your mobile experience. Dive in and explore all the new features. Features (updated June 2024): 3D Interactive Map CSUNny Dining Emergency Information Events Calendar IT Help Desk MataCard Purchase Parking Permit Shuttle Information and Routes View Parking Availability Students Academic Support (Tutoring Resources) Athletics Check/Accept Financial Aid Awards Class Search Class/Exam Schedule Community Support Centers CSUN Social Media CSUN with a HEART Degree Planning Tools (DPR and Road Maps) Enroll in Classes Grades and Transcripts Housing Portal, Handbook, Maintenance, and RHA Klotz Student Health Center Make a Payment (Tuition, Housing, other) Oasis Wellness Center On-Campus Jobs Student Recreation Center (SRC) University Student Union (USU) View 1098-T Tax Form Faculty/Staff Adobe Acrobat Sign Benefits Summary and Information Cal Employee Connect Compensation History Employee Directory Employment Verification HR News and Website myCSUNbox My Time & Attendance Payroll Calendar Top Desk Update Personal Information
SMC Go
This official college app helps students navigate their academic journey. It provides resources, tips, and tools to manage daily tasks, connect with the campus community, and achieve educational goals.
- Ask Pearl virtual assistant
- Quick Links to resources
- Class finding assistance
- Message Channels for communication
- Events & Workshops listings
- Pearl's Marketplace
- Programs & Services information
- Student Life updates
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Stay connected with SMC GO, the official app of Santa Monica College. SMC GO is more than a resource, it’s a journey, full of tips, videos, and ways to keep achieving. Begin with Start, then Manage your day, Connect to enrich your college experience, and GO towards your goals. Ready, Set, SMC GO! Favorite Features: · Ask Pearl · Quick Links · Finding Classes · Message Channels · Events & Workshops · Pearl’s Marketplace · Programs & Services · Student Life
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SMC Go at 4.3 against CSUN's 3.0. SMC Go also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 44%). CSUN's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (65 vs 17). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SMC Go holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of CSUN's written reviews are positive against 67% of SMC Go's.
CSUN ships an update every 4 months, SMC Go every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on August 16, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CSUN | SMC Go |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (65 ratings) | 4.3 (17 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 65 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | California State University, Northridge | Santa Monica Community College District |
Customer experience
CSUN
SMC Go
Bugs and requests
CSUN
Reported bugs
20 issues- Tabs not visible on iPad
- Academics/enrollment page glitchy
- Cannot access certain tools on iPad
- Parking permit purchase not mobile friendly
- App denies access to services
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- Slow load times
- Cannot access class schedule
- Asked to log in again immediately
- Login credentials not working for old oracle page
- Blank page on load
- Cannot check grades due to access issues
- Menu does not respond
- Locked out after multiple logins
- Cannot access alumni card
- Duo authentication required for everything
- Cannot find degree planner
- App keeps signing out
- Cannot check waitlist
- Classes filled/cannot pay tuition
- App crashes
Requested features
10 requests- Face ID/Biometric login
- More reliable sign-in/stay logged in
- Improved mobile-friendliness for all features
- Add more portal features (financial aid, DPR)
- Display class times for enrolled classes
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Show waitlist position
- Zoom functionality for syllabi
- Order food through the app
- Display building labels on the map
- Native app feel, not a web wrapper
SMC Go
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CSUN
No in-app purchases
SMC Go
No in-app purchases
