# SchoolMessenger vs Lillio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SchoolMessenger at none against Lillio's 1. Lillio's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (37K vs 802). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lillio sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. SchoolMessenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lillio holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lillio has 37K ratings behind it against 802, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of SchoolMessenger's written reviews are positive against 71% of Lillio's.

SchoolMessenger ships an update every 2 months, Lillio every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SchoolMessenger | Lillio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (802 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schoolmessenger/id978894818/reviews) | **[4.9 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lillio/id1098305044/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 802 | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | 53.1% of reviews | **71.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PowerSchool Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1057394489) | [Hi Mama Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/702919952) |

## What reviewers say

### SchoolMessenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schoolmessenger/id978894818)

Stay connected with your school or district through this app. It provides a unified inbox for notifications and messages, allowing for two-way communication between teachers, parents, and students. Manage your notification preferences and receive alerts for important updates.

**Highlights:** Unified inbox for notifications and messages, Two-way teacher-parent-student communication, Scrollable notification history, Customizable notification preferences, Push notifications for alerts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for reporting absences
- 📢 Helpful for staying informed about school events
- 💡 Consolidates all school communications in one place

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Messages still show as unread after being read
- 🔍 Difficult to mark multiple messages as read
- 🔄 Frequent log-outs and need to re-login
- 🔔 Excessive and repeated notifications for the same message
- 📱 Small text size and poor formatting in the app

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to report late arrivals or early departures
- Attendance reporting not working for some users
- Syncing issues between app and school records
- Verification emails not being delivered

**Requested features**

- Add option to mark all messages as read
- Improve navigation and message management
- Implement dark mode and accessibility features
- Allow parents to initiate messages to teachers


### Lillio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lillio/id1098305044)

This app streamlines childcare operations with features for daily reports, attendance, and meal planning. It enhances family engagement through real-time updates, photos, and videos, while offering research-based curriculum aligned with state standards.

**Highlights:** Daily reports, Attendance tracking, Meal planning, Family communication portal, Real-time photo sharing, Digital curriculum, Enrollment management

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photos Plus | $2.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 📸 Frequent photo/video updates
- 🌐 Keeps parents connected to child's day
- 💻 Convenient communication with teachers
- 🗓️ Detailed daily reports

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to download/view photos and videos
- ⏱️ Delayed updates and reports
- 🔀 Confusing navigation after opening photos/videos
- 🔧 Bugs and performance issues
- 💬 Lack of interactive features (likes, comments)

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Freezing and crashing
- Inconsistent data updates
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Time stamps for naps, meals, and activities
- Ability to download photos/videos in bulk
- Improved navigation and responsiveness
- Interactive features for parents
- More language options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SchoolMessenger free?

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

### Is Lillio free?

Lillio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SchoolMessenger or Lillio?

Lillio is rated higher. SchoolMessenger averages 4.5 out of 5 from 802 ratings, while Lillio averages 4.9 from 37K ratings.

### Do SchoolMessenger or Lillio have ads?

Neither SchoolMessenger nor Lillio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SchoolMessenger or Lillio?

SchoolMessenger ships an update every 2 months, and Lillio every 4 weeks. Most recently, SchoolMessenger was updated on October 19, 2026 and Lillio on October 19, 2026.

---

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