# SMART Union vs SmartBen NOW

The clearest difference is rating: SmartBen NOW at 4.5 against SMART Union's 3.3. SmartBen NOW also leads on ratings volume (868 vs 28). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SmartBen NOW holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartBen NOW has 868 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SMART Union's written reviews are positive against 31% of SmartBen NOW's.

SMART Union ships an update every 2 months, SmartBen NOW every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMART Union | SmartBen NOW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-union/id996490914/reviews) | **[4.5 (868 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartben-now/id1195891353/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **868** |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | **30.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 165 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1400949744) | [HodgesMace, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195891352) |

## What reviewers say

### SMART Union

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-union/id996490914)

Stay informed with union news and important notifications. Access member benefits, local union information, and resources to manage your meeting experience with schedules and maps.

**Highlights:** Union news updates, Important notifications, Member benefits access, Local union information, Meeting schedules and maps, Member resources

**In-app purchases:** none


### SmartBen NOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartben-now/id1195891353)

Access your employer-provided benefits information conveniently on your mobile device. Review plan details, make enrollment changes, and explore additional resources all within a single application.

**Highlights:** Access benefits information, Review plan details, Enroll or change benefits, Explore benefit resources, Up-to-date information

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great service
- 🚀 User-friendly app
- 💡 Convenient to have everything in one app
- 🚀 Helpful information provided

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy app
- 🐛 Trouble loading paystubs
- 🐛 Blank pages when viewing paystubs
- 🐛 App not working for over a month
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot download bank statements
- Cannot enter values in certain sections
- Login issues across devices
- Credentials not working
- Paycheck download function not working

**Requested features**

- Easier way to access tax forms and insurance info
- Add phone numbers for support
- Improve chat support knowledge
- Make important contact info more user-friendly
- Provide confirmation of successful enrollment


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMART Union free?

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

### Is SmartBen NOW free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMART Union or SmartBen NOW?

SmartBen NOW is rated higher. SMART Union averages 3.3 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while SmartBen NOW averages 4.5 from 868 ratings.

### Do SMART Union or SmartBen NOW have ads?

Neither SMART Union nor SmartBen NOW shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMART Union or SmartBen NOW?

SMART Union ships an update every 2 months, and SmartBen NOW every 3 months. Most recently, SMART Union was updated on August 28, 2026 and SmartBen NOW on September 8, 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.*