# Flare vs Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flare at 96% against Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･'s 24%. Flare also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Flare asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flare holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.3K and 5.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Flare's written reviews are positive against 24% of Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･'s.

Flare ships an update every 2 days, Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ weekly. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flare | Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687/reviews)** | [4.6 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidechat/id1591988276/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 5.1K |
| Positive reviews | **96.1% of reviews** | 24.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 130 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Flare App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1641431506) | [Flower Ave Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1510666150) |

## What reviewers say

### Flare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app streamlines group management by consolidating communication, event planning, and engagement tools. It offers features like group chats, event RSVPs, attendance tracking, photo albums, and payment collection, making it ideal for various organizations.

**Highlights:** Group chats and announcements, Event creation and attendance tracking, Photo albums and highlights, Polls and points system, Ticket sales and payment collection, File sharing and roster management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient communication
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Organized and user-friendly
- 🎨 Great features like photo albums and calendars
- 💪 Comprehensive for large groups

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with notifications and loading
- 🔒 Strict privacy settings can be limiting
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not always working properly
- Difficulty removing screenshots and photos

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove albums and events
- More customization options for admins
- Integration with personal calendars


### Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidechat/id1591988276)

Connect with like-minded individuals and discover vibrant communities. Share your thoughts, jokes, and memes anonymously, fostering authentic interactions. Engage in direct messages and build connections within your chosen groups.

**Highlights:** Community discovery, Anonymous posting, Direct messaging, Meme creation, Joke sharing, Authentic self-expression

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Sidechat Monthly (Early Bird) | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Amazing app for Swifties
- 🤗 Friendly and welcoming community
- 🎉 Fun and entertaining content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Rude and toxic comments
- 🔇 Lack of moderation and content control
- 🚫 Restricted access for non-college users
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with required college email
- 🐛 Verification code issues and app crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Verification code not being sent
- Frequent app crashes and login issues
- Accounts being locked out for no reason

**Requested features**

- Allow users to kick out disruptive members from group chats
- Improve content moderation to address harassment and hate speech
- Provide more options for non-college users to access the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flare free?

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

### Is Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ free?

Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Flare or Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･?

Flare is rated higher. Flare averages 4.9 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ averages 4.6 from 5.1K ratings.

### Do Flare or Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ have ads?

Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ shows ads; Flare does not.

### Which is updated more often, Flare or Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･?

Flare ships an update every 2 days, and Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ weekly. Most recently, Flare was updated on October 3, 2026 and Sidechat ｡･ﾟﾟ･ on October 3, 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.*