Wilma

The rating sits at 2.17 stars — and that is not an accident

Wilma has over 15,000 ratings on Google Play, yet the average sits just above two stars. That is a low score for an education app with more than a million downloads. The complaints are not hard to find. Users report connectivity problems, especially with mobile data. The app requires a network connection to function, and if the connection drops, features like message sending and schedule updates fail. The offline mode exists, but it only lets you view already loaded content. You cannot send a message or mark an absence without a signal. This creates a frustrating loop for parents and students who rely on the app for daily school communication. The changelog for the latest version offers little comfort: "Bugi korjauksia" — bug fixes. No specifics, no details on what was fixed or why the app still struggles. This vague update pattern has been consistent across versions, leaving users guessing about improvements.

The app's core function is straightforward. It connects teachers, students, and guardians through a shared school information system. You log in with your Wilma credentials, and the app pulls your schedule, homework assignments, exam dates, lesson notes, and announcements. Teachers can send messages to individual students or entire classes. Guardians can verify their child's absences and notify the school in advance. The app also supports multiple Wilma IDs, so a parent with children in different schools can manage everything from one place. These features are essential for the Finnish education system, where Wilma is the standard platform. The problem is not the feature set — it is the execution. The app feels like a mobile wrapper for the web version, with limited functionality and frequent bugs.

Permissions are another point of concern. The app requests access to the camera, flashlight, internet, notifications, and the ability to prevent the phone from sleeping. The camera permission is likely for scanning QR codes during setup, but it still raises privacy questions. The flashlight permission seems unnecessary for a school app. These permissions, combined with the low rating, suggest that the app is not optimized for user experience. The developer, Visma Aquila Oy, is a reputable company based in Helsinki, but their mobile app has not kept pace with the web platform. The iOS version has similar issues, according to App Store reviews, though the rating there is slightly higher.

Offline mode works, but only if you plan ahead

The offline mode is one of the few features that actually functions as advertised. You can view your schedule, read messages, and check announcements without an internet connection. This is useful for students in areas with poor coverage or for parents who want to check information during a commute. However, the offline mode is not automatic. You must open the app while connected to load the latest data. The app does not cache content in the background or pre-load based on your usage patterns. This means you have to remember to refresh the app before you lose signal. If you forget, you are stuck with stale information. The app also does not support offline message sending. You cannot draft a message and have it send automatically when you reconnect. This is a significant limitation for a communication tool.

Push notifications are the other half of the engagement strategy. The app sends alerts for new messages, schedule changes, and absence requests. These notifications work reliably when the app is open or running in the background. However, the app does not allow granular control over notification types. You cannot choose to receive only messages from teachers, or only absence notifications. It is all or nothing. This leads to notification fatigue, especially for parents with multiple children. The app also does not support notification grouping or summaries. Each notification arrives individually, cluttering the notification shade. This is a common complaint among users, according to forum discussions on Vauva.fi and other Finnish parenting sites.

The original analysis opportunity here is the interaction between offline mode and push notifications. The app can notify you of a new message while you are online, but if you are offline when the notification arrives, you cannot view the message content without reconnecting. The notification itself does not include a preview. This means you know a message exists, but you cannot act on it until you find a signal. This is a fundamental design flaw for a tool that is supposed to facilitate communication. A better approach would be to cache message content locally so that notifications can display a preview, even offline. The app does not do this. Instead, it relies on a live connection for all content delivery, making the offline mode less useful than it could be.

Version history shows a pattern of minimal updates

The version history for Wilma is sparse. The latest version, 2.1.44, was released in July 2026. The previous version, 2.1.43, came out in June 2026. Before that, version 2.1.42 was released in May 2026. Each update brings the same changelog: "Bugi korjauksia" — bug fixes. No new features, no UI improvements, no performance enhancements. This pattern suggests that the app is in maintenance mode. The developer is fixing bugs as they arise but not investing in new functionality. This is consistent with the low rating and user complaints. The app feels stagnant, and users have noticed. The web version of Wilma, by contrast, receives regular updates with new features and improvements. The mobile app is clearly a secondary priority for Visma.

The app's system requirements are also worth noting. It requires Android 7.0 or higher, which covers most modern devices. The APK size is around 56 MB, which is reasonable for a communication app. The app supports multiple languages, including Finnish, Swedish, English, and Chinese, reflecting its user base in Finland and other Nordic countries. The app is free to download and use, with no in-app purchases or subscriptions. This is a positive aspect, as it removes barriers for schools and families. However, the lack of investment in the app raises questions about its long-term viability. If the app continues to lag behind the web version, users may abandon it in favor of the mobile browser.

The app's performance on older devices is another concern. The minimum Android version is 7.0, but users on older devices report lag and crashes. The app uses the WAKE_LOCK permission to prevent the phone from sleeping, which can drain battery life if not managed properly. This is a technical detail that affects real-world usage. The app also requires internet access for most functions, which can be a problem in areas with limited connectivity. The offline mode mitigates this, but only for content that has already been loaded. The combination of these factors contributes to the overall dissatisfaction reflected in the rating.