# ParentSquare vs SMART tag™ Parent App

The clearest difference is rating: ParentSquare at 4.6 against SMART tag™ Parent App's 2.1. ParentSquare also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 10%) and ratings volume (78K vs 89). SMART tag™ Parent App's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParentSquare has 78K ratings behind it against 89, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ParentSquare's written reviews are positive against 10% of SMART tag™ Parent App's.

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, SMART tag™ Parent App every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParentSquare | SMART tag™ Parent App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679/reviews)** | [2.1 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tag-parent-app/id6469307680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **78K** | 89 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 10.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 154 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ParentSquare](https://appshunter.io/developer/908126682) | [Secured Mobility LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449285817) |

## What reviewers say

### ParentSquare

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

**Currently charting:** #19 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


### SMART tag™ Parent App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tag-parent-app/id6469307680)

Stay informed about your child's school bus activity and receive important transportation updates. Get real-time alerts for pick-ups, drop-offs, and any route changes or emergencies, ensuring peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus alerts, Student pick-up/drop-off notifications, Delay and route alteration updates, Emergency notifications, Intuitive parent interface, District contact information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app!
- 🔒 Helpful when it works
- 👍 Useful when it works

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes constantly
- 🐛 Buggy
- 🐛 Poor response from developers
- 🐛 Please fix!
- 🐛 Terrible app

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications are off by 1/2
- Notifications not accurate
- Notifications not working
- Map not working
- Constantly logging out

**Requested features**

- Add bus tracking back to the app
- Turn the map back on!!!
- Add the real time map please
- Bring back live bus location


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParentSquare free?

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

### Is SMART tag™ Parent App free?

SMART tag™ Parent App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ParentSquare or SMART tag™ Parent App?

ParentSquare is rated higher. ParentSquare averages 4.6 out of 5 from 78K ratings, while SMART tag™ Parent App averages 2.1 from 89 ratings.

### Do ParentSquare or SMART tag™ Parent App have ads?

Neither ParentSquare nor SMART tag™ Parent App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParentSquare or SMART tag™ Parent App?

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, and SMART tag™ Parent App every 3 weeks. Most recently, ParentSquare was updated on October 18, 2026 and SMART tag™ Parent App on October 13, 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.*