# SchoolMessenger vs STEAR

The clearest difference is review sentiment: STEAR at 100% against SchoolMessenger's 53%. STEAR also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). 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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SchoolMessenger | STEAR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (802 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schoolmessenger/id978894818/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **802** | — |
| Positive reviews | 53.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 43 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PowerSchool Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1057394489) | [Canadian Center For Women's Empowerment ( Ccfwe)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700190972) |

## 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


### STEAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stear/id6455888597)

This app provides information and tools for individuals experiencing economic abuse. It includes a screening questionnaire, safety planning tips, and resources for economic empowerment. A discreet lock feature is included for user safety.

**Highlights:** Economic abuse information, Screening questionnaire, Safety planning tips, Economic empowerment resources, Discreet lock feature, No personal data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SchoolMessenger free?

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

### Is STEAR free?

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

### Do SchoolMessenger or STEAR have ads?

Neither SchoolMessenger nor STEAR shows ads.

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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.*