# Samaritan vs GiveInstead

The clearest difference is rating: GiveInstead at 5.0 against Samaritan's 4.3. GiveInstead also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Samaritan's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

GiveInstead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Samaritan has 43 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Samaritan ships an update every 2 months, GiveInstead every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and June 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Samaritan | GiveInstead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samaritan-walk-with-not-by/id1069293036/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giveinstead/id6444924893/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 73.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 53 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samaritan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762069285) | [HowGiving LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/907562646) |

## What reviewers say

### Samaritan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samaritan-walk-with-not-by/id1069293036)

This app provides a secure way to support individuals experiencing homelessness. You can send gifts for essential needs, invite them for coffee, or offer words of encouragement, ensuring your support directly aids their journey toward stable housing.

**Highlights:** Support individuals experiencing homelessness, Send gifts for essential needs, Invite for coffee or conversation, Offer words of encouragement, Track impact on user journeys, Community expansion requests

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### GiveInstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giveinstead/id6444924893)

This app facilitates charitable giving by allowing users to donate funds they would have otherwise spent on non-essential purchases. It offers a unique way for individuals to practice generosity and for charities to receive additional support.

**Highlights:** Redirect planned spending to charities, Support favorite charities, Track charitable giving, Ministry-focused giving, Simple donation process

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Samaritan free?

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

### Is GiveInstead free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Samaritan or GiveInstead?

GiveInstead is rated higher. Samaritan averages 4.3 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while GiveInstead averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Samaritan or GiveInstead have ads?

Neither Samaritan nor GiveInstead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Samaritan or GiveInstead?

Samaritan ships an update every 2 months, and GiveInstead every 3 months. Most recently, Samaritan was updated on September 5, 2026 and GiveInstead on June 6, 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.*