Comparison

NC State University Guides vs CMS ParentSquare

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NC State University Guides

Find essential information for NC State University, including orientation schedules, event details like Wolfpack Welcome Week, and resources for academic success and student leadership. Explore career fairs, conferences, and valuable links to support your university experience.

Highlights
  • Orientation schedules
  • Event details (Wolfpack Welcome Week, Packapalooza)
  • Career fair information
  • Student leadership opportunities
  • Academic success suggestions
  • Links to valuable resources
Features
Read full description

Looking for important information, schedules for orientation, or details about events like Wolfpack Welcome Week and Packapalooza at NC State? The NC State Guides app is the place to go. We have everything from career fairs, to student leadership opportunities, conferences, academic success suggestions, links to valuable resources, event information, and much more.

About

CMS ParentSquare

This app connects schools and families, providing a central hub for all communications. It ensures families receive important alerts, messages from teachers, and school updates, fostering a stronger connection to the educational community.

Highlights
  • Centralized school-family communication
  • Automatic message translation
  • Safety and security features
  • Direct messaging with teachers
  • School news and updates
  • Attendance and fee management
Features
Read full description

What is CMS ParentSquare? CMS ParentSquare helps schools and families stay connected and informed—all in one easy place. Whether it’s a quick message from a teacher, an important alert from the district, or a reminder about tomorrow’s field trip, CMS ParentSquare makes sure families never miss a thing. Why families and teachers love CMS ParentSquare: • Simple, easy-to-use app and website • Messages are automatically translated into 190+ languages • Best-in-class safety and security practices • One place for all school updates, alerts, and messages With CMS ParentSquare, families and staff save time and stay connected—so everyone can focus on helping students succeed. CMS ParentSquare for iOS The CMS ParentSquare app makes it easy for families to stay in the loop and engage with their child’s school community. With the app, parents and guardians can: • See school news, classroom updates, and photos • Receive important notices like attendance alerts and cafeteria balances • Message teachers and staff directly • Join group conversations • Sign up for wishlist items, volunteering, and conferences • Respond to absences or tardies* • Pay school-related fees and invoices* * If included with your school's implementation

Screenshots

NC State University Guides3 screens
CMS ParentSquare4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: CMS ParentSquare at weekly against NC State University Guides's every 2 months. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NC State University Guides holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 39 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NC State University Guides ships an update every 2 months, CMS ParentSquare weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
NC State University Guides versus CMS ParentSquare: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNC State University GuidesCMS ParentSquare
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (20 ratings) — better4.1 (39 ratings)
Number of ratings2039 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB153 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNorth Carolina State UniversityParentSquare

Customer experience

NC State University Guides

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative10.5%

CMS ParentSquare

All ratings39 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral2.6%
Negative17.9%

In-app purchases

None

NC State University Guides

No in-app purchases

None

CMS ParentSquare

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NC State University Guides free?
NC State University Guides is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CMS ParentSquare free?
CMS ParentSquare is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NC State University Guides or CMS ParentSquare?
NC State University Guides is rated higher. NC State University Guides averages 4.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while CMS ParentSquare averages 4.1 from 39 ratings.
Do NC State University Guides or CMS ParentSquare have ads?
Neither NC State University Guides nor CMS ParentSquare shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NC State University Guides or CMS ParentSquare?
NC State University Guides ships an update every 2 months, and CMS ParentSquare weekly. Most recently, NC State University Guides was updated on November 6, 2026 and CMS ParentSquare on November 11, 2026.

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