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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Popsicle Sticks vs Teachers FCU

Popsicle Sticks 4.6★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Popsicle Sticks
Teachers FCU 4.8★ · Free to download 40

Popsicle Sticks is the better choice for educators needing classroom management tools, despite its in-app purchase model, while Teachers FCU struggles with core banking app functionality and user experience.

Full reviews: Popsicle Sticks · Teachers FCU

Popsicle Sticks offers valuable classroom management features like random grouping and student selection, though users are frustrated by its aggressive in-app purchase model and some usability issues. Teachers FCU, a banking app, faces significant criticism for slow transfers, frequent app crashes, and missing basic features like Zelle and card locking.

Head to head

Features edge: Popsicle SticksR1R5R8R13
Popsicle Sticks Popsicle Sticks is praised for its random student selection, grouping, and other classroom tools like dice rolls and tournament features R5. Users appreciate its ability to help with fairness and engagement . However, many features are locked behind in-app purchases, leading to frustration R1R8R13R38. Some users also desire features like mixing groups by gender , marking students absent , and better iPad interface support .
Teachers FCU Teachers FCU users highlight the lack of essential banking features such as Zelle for money transfers R69 and the ability to lock debit or credit cards within the app R66R73. Users also complain about the absence of home screen widgets , graphs for tracking finances , and the inability to link external accounts or download statements/PDFs .
Ease of Use edge: Popsicle SticksR2R3R4R6
Popsicle Sticks Popsicle Sticks is generally considered easy to set up and intuitive for its core functions like random selection and grouping . However, users frequently report difficulties with managing student lists, specifically deleting or removing students and archiving classes, finding the process not user-friendly or intuitive R2R3R4R10. Some also find the interface clunky with too much switching between screens . Accessibility for screen reader users is also a concern R6.
Teachers FCU Teachers FCU is criticized for its unfriendly platform and complicated bill pay system . Users find the login process problematic, with frequent issues preventing access or causing lag . Mobile check deposit functionality is also reported to be buggy, requiring device rotation that often doesn't work .
Reliability edge: Popsicle SticksR7R9R19R21
Popsicle Sticks Popsicle Sticks users report issues with app crashing, particularly during CSV import R19. Some experience glitches where random people are added to groups R7 or students are left out of groups R21. Multitasking functionality has also been lost for some users R9.
Teachers FCU Teachers FCU suffers from significant reliability problems, with users frequently reporting the app crashing , being down , or failing to load account information . Transfers, both internal and external, are consistently described as slow R63R64R70, and some users experience issues with payments being delayed or cards being declined .
Price/Value edge: Popsicle SticksR1R8R13R28
Popsicle Sticks Popsicle Sticks is a free app with in-app purchases, but many users feel it's a 'cash grab' R13 because essential features like creating multiple classes, random groupings, or using the app beyond a limited number of times require payment R1R8. Users are frustrated by the unexpected costs and feel deceived, especially when a $2.99 or $3.99 upgrade doesn't unlock all features . Some find it not worth the money spent R28.
Teachers FCU Teachers FCU is free to download, and while some users appreciate the bank's services and rates , the app itself is criticized for charging fees for too many bank transfers and for using Allpoint ATMs . Business users find the mobile deposit caps and check hold times to be restrictive and not a good value .
Support edge: Popsicle SticksR21R34R37R78
Popsicle Sticks One user praised Popsicle Sticks for great customer service and a responsive developer who helped troubleshoot CSV import issues R37. However, another user reported an error when trying to get app support for a bug R21. There's also a complaint about paid features not syncing between iPad and iPhone versions R34.
Teachers FCU Teachers FCU users report ridiculous customer service wait times . Issues like broken 2FA R78 and unresponsive check deposit features suggest a lack of effective support or timely bug fixes. The app's frequent updates are questioned for their necessity and impact on security .
Pick Popsicle Sticks if

you are an educator looking for a tool to randomly select students, create groups, and manage classroom activities, and are willing to pay for premium features or navigate the in-app purchase model R5.

Pick Teachers FCU if

you are already a member of Teachers FCU and primarily need to check balances and make simple deposits, and are willing to tolerate frequent app issues and missing features .

Evidence note: Popsicle Sticks has a much smaller review base, and its negative reviews are heavily skewed towards the free-tier friction and aggressive IAP model. Teachers FCU has a large number of reviews, with a significant portion expressing strong dissatisfaction with core banking app functionality.

Frequently asked

Does Popsicle Sticks offer a free version?
Yes, Popsicle Sticks offers a free version, but many core features like creating more than one class, making more than a few random groupings, or using random name selection extensively are locked behind in-app purchases, which users find frustrating R1R8R13R38.
Can I transfer money with Teachers FCU app?
While you can transfer money, users report that both internal and external transfers are slow, often delaying payments R63R64R70. Additionally, the app notably lacks support for Zelle, a common money transfer service, which is a major point of frustration for many users R69.
Are there issues with deleting students or classes in Popsicle Sticks?
Yes, several users report that deleting or removing students from classes and archiving old classes is not user-friendly or intuitive, causing frustration, especially at the beginning of a new school year R3R4R10R14.
Does the Teachers FCU app allow locking debit/credit cards?
No, the Teachers FCU app does not currently allow users to lock their debit or credit cards within the app, requiring them to use separate services like Card Valet, which users find inconvenient R66R73.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Good but: I like the app I like all the stuff but of course every app now have to have a premium or something to buy with and and you have to upgrade it to premium to get more than random groupings and to make more than one classes it’s really weird and I do not like it. That’s why I’m giving it two stars
  2. [R5] Popsicle Sticks 5/5 · US Love: I seriously love this app. It helps with picking students to call on, grouping and so much more! I never review apps, but I’ve had this one for a few years now and wanted people to know this one was worth every penny!
  3. [R8] Popsicle Sticks 4/5 · US It’s great just I have one complaint: This is a great app just I was clicking on groups and it said I had reached my limit and I had to pay if I wanted to continue which was annoying but otherwise it is great!
  4. [R13] Popsicle Sticks 1/5 · US Cash Grab: I literally had gotten no actual use out of this app, but it has potential. So I put it to the test the first time, and bam, it refuses to create random groups until I pay it. I’ve got 11 girls learning soccer who need to be grouped and this app is extorting me in my minute of need. Cannot be trusted.
  5. [R2] Popsicle Sticks 4/5 · US Saves time: This is a great way to call random names and assign visibly random groups! I use it for multiple classes, and even selecting next class awards. I wish there was a way to delete names or class lists though.
  6. [R3] Popsicle Sticks 3/5 · US Some drawbacks: The app is wonderful,however,it’s not user friendly when removing students and archiving classes. There’s no where to show to do that with the app.
  7. [R4] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Problem deleting: Would be a great app if I could figure out how to delete the students that leave my class. If someone knows, please advise. Thanks
  8. [R6] Popsicle Sticks 3/5 · US Would be awesome with accessibility updates: I am a blind user who utilizes screen reader technology on an iPhone. This app is great and mostly accessible. I would love to see future updates that include accessibility for screen reader in a Gratian. For example, some buttons are not labeled and therefore, the screen reader just reads it as button. This makes it impossible to know what the function
  9. [R7] Popsicle Sticks 1/5 · US Terrible App: Although it started off great I began using it too much and it ended up ruining my life because it would put people in groups that would ruin their grades and at my house we used it to separate chores. It also glitches and sometimes adds random people that you don't even know into groups. I hate this app and do not recommend using it for anything.
  10. [R9] Popsicle Sticks 3/5 · US Totally useful but hope a future update will enable it to work seamlessly in multitasking: The app is perfect for quickly pairing or grouping. It will make random groups and then you can slide around to make quick switches. Classic random selection is great,too! One last thing developer...I used to be able to use the app easily while multitasking. That is no longer so. It was so helpful to view bo
  11. [R19] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Import glitches: I will update after I actually get to try the app. Right now I’m frustrated because the app keeps crashing during the import process. 2 classes worked fine, but the third list crashes the app as soon as I try to scroll and confirm the list. I’m annoyed so far & hope the experience improves. I’m off to type in 31 names….
  12. [R21] Popsicle Sticks 3/5 · US Please help: I tried to get app support but it said there was an error. I paid $5 for this app and I really like it, but every time I create group one or two students always get left out. I thought it might be because I had an odd number of kids, but today it left 3 students out of groups of 2. It could have made one more group of 2. Please fix.
  13. [R28] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Disappointed: It’s hard to believe the steps to import a class don’t work. I wish I read some reviews before I bought it. I’ve used the stick pick app for years and love it. This app had some additional features so thought I would give it a try. I have 160 students and am not about to manually add each student. I could’ve spent $5 on something else.
  14. [R34] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Why doesn't the iPad version communicate with phone version?: I just spent $5.99 on unlimited for iPad but none of this registers on my phone. It is essential I can use either in my classroom. Help!
  15. [R37] Popsicle Sticks 5/5 · US Great customer service.: Useful and fun app. Developer was very responsive in helping troubleshoot a .csv file import question. Thanks!
  16. [R78] Teachers FCU 3/5 · US Your 2FA is now broken: Replying the 6-digit code to the verification text message creates an error message in the App. Needs to be fixed or reverted back to when you would just enter the code into the app.
  17. [R38] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Frustrating: Why even have the app as free if you ultimately end up having to pay to use the main feature? I like all the other features the app has and that is why I gave it two stars, but am ultimately disappointed with the fact that the app is useless if you don’t pay $3.99. If I’d known that I would be cut off after a certain amount of uses, I would’ve been more careful every time I created a
  18. [R63] Teachers FCU 3/5 · US Help my Teachers: After a transfer is completed it takes a while for the transfer to process.
  19. [R64] Teachers FCU 1/5 · US Slow transfers: The transfers both internal and external are too slow which delays my payments - this is the slowest transfer system I have among my banks and others
  20. [R69] Teachers FCU 3/5 · US Zelle: The fact that this credit union was considered to be one of the best to then get rid of the most common money transfer in the world Zelle doesn’t make sense. You can’t even sign up for it now. Might be switching soon because of that.
  21. [R70] Teachers FCU 1/5 · US Far worse than any other Banking App: I would say it’s a 50/50 shot at being able to view your accounts at any time. Barely useable. Doesn’t support instant Venmo transfers. Everything takes forever to post. I suggest opening with a different bank if you like to use mobile banking.
  22. [R10] Popsicle Sticks 2/5 · US Deleting Students from a Class: I like using this app, but every time a student leaves my class, I hate that it is more difficult to remove a student from a class than it is to add them. It is not an intuitive process. And today as I am trying to adjust classes at the beginning of the semester, I almost hate the app.
  23. [R14] Popsicle Sticks 4/5 · US Works great, once you set it up: I really enjoyed this last year. It worked well and the students laughed at how their names were pronounced. Some of the add on stuff has been fun too Now it’s a new school year and I need to delete the old classes to make new ones. There isn’t an easy way to do that! This is a short term frustration of course. I can replace the names individually. But a way to cle
  24. [R66] Teachers FCU 3/5 · US Card lock: The app is Great, makes online banking convenient and quick. only downside to the app is that we are unable to lock our debit cards from here. i'm using card valet to lock my card. wish it was all in one place. thanks
  25. [R73] Teachers FCU 1/5 · US Can’t lock credit card ?????: Can’t lock credit card in app no e gift card rewards for points you have to wait 4-6 weeks for them to ship a gift card or whatever you buy points are pointless .

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store