# ParentSquare vs The Academy OK

The clearest difference is rating: ParentSquare at 4.6 against The Academy OK's 3.7. ParentSquare also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (98K vs 25). The Academy OK's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, 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.

ParentSquare holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParentSquare has 98K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of ParentSquare's written reviews are positive against 50% of The Academy OK's.

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, The Academy OK every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParentSquare | The Academy OK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (98K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679/reviews)** | [3.7 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-academy-ok/id1527630913/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **98K** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | **51.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 156 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ParentSquare](https://appshunter.io/developer/908126682) | [Acad Classical Chrn Studies Hs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527630915) |

## What reviewers say

### ParentSquare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app connects schools and families, providing a central hub for communication and information. Families can receive important alerts, view school news, and message teachers directly. It aims to keep everyone informed and engaged to support student success.

**Highlights:** Centralized school and family communication, Receive school news, alerts, and messages, Direct messaging with teachers and staff, View classroom updates and photos, Respond to absences or tardies, Pay school fees and invoices

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Helpful communication tool
- 🗓️ Keeps parents informed
- 🤝 Facilitates parent-teacher interaction
- 📤 Streamlines notifications and updates
- 🧭 Centralizes school information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Overwhelming notifications
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information
- 🔒 Login and access issues
- 🐌 Slow performance and glitches
- 🤖 Lacks customization and user control

**Reported bugs**

- Notification issues and delays
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices
- Login problems and lost user sessions
- Attachment and media viewing difficulties
- Syncing and data display errors

**Requested features**

- Ability to filter and customize notifications
- Improved search and organization of content
- Integration with other school/student platforms
- Enhanced mobile app functionality
- Parent-teacher group messaging capabilities


### The Academy OK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-academy-ok/id1527630913)

This official school portal app provides access to academic information, including homework, grades, and lesson plans. It also features a new calendar and blog for staying updated with school events and news. Future updates will introduce more functionalities.

**Highlights:** Access homework assignments, View student grades, Review lesson plans, School calendar, School blog, Facts SIS information

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParentSquare free?

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

### Is The Academy OK free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ParentSquare or The Academy OK?

ParentSquare is rated higher. ParentSquare averages 4.6 out of 5 from 98K ratings, while The Academy OK averages 3.7 from 25 ratings.

### Do ParentSquare or The Academy OK have ads?

Neither ParentSquare nor The Academy OK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParentSquare or The Academy OK?

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, and The Academy OK every 6 months. Most recently, ParentSquare was updated on October 26, 2026 and The Academy OK on October 24, 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.*