# ParentSquare vs Ballard CSD App

The clearest difference is update cadence: ParentSquare at weekly against Ballard CSD App's every 20 months. ParentSquare also leads on ratings volume (81K vs 1) and chart position (#8 vs unranked). Ballard CSD App's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.4 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.

Ballard CSD App holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParentSquare has 81K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, Ballard CSD App every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParentSquare | Ballard CSD App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (81K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballard-csd-app/id6738099798/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **81K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 20 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 156 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ParentSquare](https://appshunter.io/developer/908126682) | [Juicebox Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561560935) |

## What reviewers say

### ParentSquare

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

**Currently charting:** #8 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


### Ballard CSD App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballard-csd-app/id6738099798)

Stay informed about the latest news, upcoming events, and important announcements from Ballard CSD. This application provides a centralized hub for community updates.

**Highlights:** Latest news updates, Event calendar, Important announcements, Community information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParentSquare free?

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

### Is Ballard CSD App free?

Ballard CSD App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ParentSquare or Ballard CSD App?

Ballard CSD App is rated higher. ParentSquare averages 4.6 out of 5 from 81K ratings, while Ballard CSD App averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ParentSquare or Ballard CSD App have ads?

Neither ParentSquare nor Ballard CSD App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParentSquare or Ballard CSD App?

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, and Ballard CSD App every 20 months. Most recently, ParentSquare was updated on October 20, 2026 and Ballard CSD App on October 16, 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.*