# ParentSquare vs Desert View Schools

The clearest difference is update cadence: ParentSquare at weekly against Desert View Schools's every 2 months. ParentSquare also leads on ratings volume (81K vs 2) and chart position (#19 vs unranked). Desert View Schools's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). 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.

Desert View Schools 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 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, Desert View Schools every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParentSquare | Desert View Schools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (81K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parentsquare/id908126679/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desert-view-schools/id6745621872/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **81K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 156 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ParentSquare](https://appshunter.io/developer/908126682) | [Juniper Tree Academy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813201457) |

## 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


### Desert View Schools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desert-view-schools/id6745621872)

Stay informed about school events, receive customized notifications for your student's organization, and access weekly cafeteria menus. Get district updates and easily find staff and department contact information.

**Highlights:** Event calendar with sharing, Customizable student notifications, Weekly cafeteria menus, Live district updates feed, Staff and department directory

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParentSquare free?

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

### Is Desert View Schools free?

Desert View Schools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ParentSquare or Desert View Schools?

Desert View Schools is rated higher. ParentSquare averages 4.6 out of 5 from 81K ratings, while Desert View Schools averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ParentSquare or Desert View Schools have ads?

Neither ParentSquare nor Desert View Schools shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParentSquare or Desert View Schools?

ParentSquare ships an update weekly, and Desert View Schools every 2 months. Most recently, ParentSquare was updated on October 19, 2026 and Desert View Schools on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*