Comparison

Circle 1st generation vs Gabb Messenger

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Circle 1st generation

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
Read full description

Works with the Circle with Disney device and supported NETGEAR routers (Nighthawk and Orbi). Not compatible with the 2nd generation Circle Home Plus device. ABOUT CIRCLE: Circle products help families better manage time spent online. Filtering content and balancing online usage has never been easier. From devices on your home network, both wireless and wired to connected devices, Circle has you covered. Customizing Circle for your unique family is quick and easy. Circle’s mission is to improve families’ lives, online and off. Don’t have a Circle with Disney device or a supported NETGEAR router? Please visit www.meetcircle.com to learn more about our products. NEED HELP? If you have any questions, need help with Circle, or want to provide feedback, you can contact our Support Team at help@meetcircle.com or go to support.meetcircle.com NETGEAR OPTIONAL IN APP SUBSCRIPTION - Pricing & Terms Circle Premium (for supported NETGEAR routers) is an optional automatic renewing subscription. Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renewing is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. Current subscribers can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by visiting iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://meetcircle.com/privacy/ Terms of use: https://meetcircle.com/license/

About

Gabb Messenger

This app enables safe video calls between friends and family and Gabb kids, with smart filtration to monitor for potential harm. Parents can access robust controls to manage their child's messaging, including flagged content, contact lists, and deletion settings, ensuring peace of mind.

Highlights
  • Safe video calling with smart filtration
  • Parental controls for messaging
  • Flagged content monitoring
  • Contact management
  • Message deletion settings
  • Manage multiple devices
Features
Read full description

Gabb Messenger™ Friends and family can safely video call with Gabb kids directly through the app. Safe Video Calling uses smart filtration to monitor video calls for potential harm, keeping kids safe & parents at peace. Gabb Messenger Parental Controls Gabb Parents can also use Gabb Messenger to access important parental controls to monitor & manage their child's messaging experience. As a Gabb Parent, you'll have access to the following controls: -Flagged Content: view all flagged images, video calls, texts, and links -Safe Video Calling: ability to disable/enable at any time -Deleting Settings: manage whether your child can delete messages on their device -Contact Management: manage an Approved Contact List and restrict who your child can message & video call Gabb Messenger Parental Controls are easy to use and perfect for managing multiple devices. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your child is protected while they stay connected to friends and family. Download Gabb Messenger and get started. You can learn more about Gabb Messenger at gabb.com/gabb-messenger/ More about Gabb Gabb provides safe tech made specifically to protect kids, connect families, and empower parents. Gabb devices—Gabb Watch 2, Gabb Watch 3, Gabb Phone, Gabb Phone Plus, Gabb Phone 3 Pro—were all created with kids’ safety as the top priority and provide safe “tech in steps” options for kids 5-18. All Gabb devices come with unlimited talk and text but no social media, internet, or unsafe apps. Parents can stay safely connected with their kids through GPS tracking, safe messaging, geofenced safe zones with alerts when a child’s device enters or leaves specified locations, and more. Gabb’s growing list of safe apps, like Gabb Music and Gabb Messenger, give kids more ways to learn the benefits of technology without all the dangers. Learn more at gabb.com

Screenshots

Circle 1st generation4 screens
Gabb Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Circle 1st generation at 4.6 against Gabb Messenger's 3.7. Circle 1st generation also leads on ratings volume (28K vs 922) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Gabb Messenger's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Gabb Messenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Circle 1st generation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Circle 1st generation has 28K ratings behind it against 922, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Circle 1st generation's written reviews are positive against 19% of Gabb Messenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, Gabb Messenger every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Circle 1st generation versus Gabb Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCircle 1st generationGabb Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (28K ratings) — better3.7 (922 ratings)
Positive reviews25.2% of reviews — better18.9% of reviews
Number of ratings28K — better922
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCircle Media IncorporatedGabb Wireless, Inc.

Customer experience

Circle 1st generation

All ratings28,383 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.6%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews341 reviews
Positive25.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative68.6%

Gabb Messenger

All ratings720 ratings
Positive68.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews190 reviews
Positive18.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative77.4%

User reviews

Circle 1st generation

From 28K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Gabb Messenger

From 922 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps catch inappropriate messages
  • 🔒 Allows parent control of contacts
  • 👍 Provides peace of mind for parents

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Unreliable syncing and notifications
  • 🐛 Inability to view flagged messages
  • 🔒 Overly restrictive features

Bugs and requests

Circle 1st generation

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • Better device identification
  • Easier profile management
  • More granular time controls
  • Remote access from anywhere

Gabb Messenger

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashing on launch
  • Syncing issues between phone and app
  • Unreliable notifications of flagged messages

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved app stability and reliability
  • Better visibility into flagged messages
  • More flexible parental control options
  • Ability to monitor calls and location

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Circle 1st generation

Subscriptions3
  • Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
  • Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly$49.991 Year
None

Gabb Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Circle 1st generation free?
Circle 1st generation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gabb Messenger free?
Gabb Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Gabb Messenger?
Circle 1st generation is rated higher. Circle 1st generation averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while Gabb Messenger averages 3.7 from 922 ratings.
Do Circle 1st generation or Gabb Messenger have ads?
Neither Circle 1st generation nor Gabb Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Gabb Messenger?
Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, and Gabb Messenger every 5 weeks. Most recently, Circle 1st generation was updated on October 29, 2026 and Gabb Messenger on October 27, 2026.

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