# Circle 1st generation vs Gryphon Connect

The clearest difference is rating: Circle 1st generation at 4.6 against Gryphon Connect's 2.9. Circle 1st generation also leads on ratings volume (28K vs 555) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). Gryphon Connect's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (34% vs 25%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Gryphon Connect sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Circle 1st generation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Circle 1st generation has 28K ratings behind it against 555, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Circle 1st generation's written reviews are positive against 34% of Gryphon Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, Gryphon Connect weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circle 1st generation | Gryphon Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934/reviews)** | [2.9 (555 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gryphon-connect/id1493367815/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 555 |
| Positive reviews | 25.2% of reviews | **34.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Circle Media Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/950202222) | [Gryphon Online Safety, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1179803718) |

## What reviewers say

### Circle 1st generation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934)

Manage your family's online time and filter content with this app, designed to work with the Circle 1st gen device and select NETGEAR routers. It helps balance internet usage for connected devices on your home network.

**Highlights:** Content filtering, Online time management, Device management, Customizable settings, Works with Circle 1st gen, Supports NETGEAR routers

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Helpful for internet safety
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 💡 Allows controlling devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and use
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lacks important features
- 🔽 Slows down internet speed

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatible with certain routers
- Devices not detected properly
- Time limits not working as expected
- App crashes after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Better device identification
- Easier profile management
- More granular time controls
- Remote access from anywhere


### Gryphon Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gryphon-connect/id1493367815)

This app provides families with digital security and control over their online experiences. It offers advanced network protection against threats and comprehensive parental controls for monitoring children's online safety and managing screen time.

**Highlights:** Advanced internet protection, Comprehensive parental controls, Content filtering, Screen time management, Individual app control, Visual browsing history, Network-level malware protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gryphon Guardian Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Gryphon AX Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon AX Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Guardian Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Gryphon AX Premium | $89.99 | per year |
| Gryphon Tower Premium | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great coverage and speed
- 🔒 Reliable and secure
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Fantastic hardware
- 🔒 Excellent parental controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with constant issues
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app
- 🔁 Inconsistent and unreliable
- 💸 Overpriced for the experience
- 🤯 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App constantly crashes and freezes
- Parental controls not working as expected
- Devices not showing up correctly
- Schedules and settings not saving properly
- Frequent disconnections and network issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More granular parental controls
- Improved app stability and performance
- Better device management and monitoring
- Compatibility with more VPNs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circle 1st generation free?

Circle 1st generation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Gryphon Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect?

Circle 1st generation is rated higher. Circle 1st generation averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while Gryphon Connect averages 2.9 from 555 ratings.

### Do Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect have ads?

Neither Circle 1st generation nor Gryphon Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect?

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, and Gryphon Connect weekly. Most recently, Circle 1st generation was updated on October 23, 2026 and Gryphon Connect on October 24, 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.*