# Empath vs Hoop

The clearest difference is rating: Hoop at 4.5 against Empath's 3.1. Hoop also leads on ratings volume (684K vs 70) and review sentiment (64% vs 49%). Empath's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hoop sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Empath asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hoop holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hoop has 684K ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Empath's written reviews are positive against 64% of Hoop's.

Empath ships an update monthly, Hoop fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Empath | Hoop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath/id1122581674/reviews) | **[4.5 (684K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoop-make-new-friends/id1442571346/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **684K** |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **63.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#164** |
| Size | 11 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.7** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [InspiringApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/342848610) | [Dazz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1120005306) |

## What reviewers say

### Empath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath/id1122581674)

Share your true feelings anonymously in a supportive community. Connect authentically with friends who show you love, and track your emotional journey over time. Build deeper relationships by opening up when you feel comfortable.

**Highlights:** Anonymous emotional posts, Friend-initiated connection, Emotional journal tracking, Profile with minimal info, Express a range of emotions, Community emotional trends

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hoop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoop-make-new-friends/id1442571346)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #177 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with new people globally and make friends. Browse profiles, send friend requests, and manage your social media connections. Earn in-app currency through various activities to enhance your experience.

**Highlights:** Discover global profiles, Send friend requests, Add friends on social apps, Earn diamonds daily, Customize profile, Watch videos for rewards

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hoop+ 1 Week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Hoop+ 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| 1000 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Diamonds | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3300 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1 Boost (1H) | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1 Boost 60 Mins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 6000 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 7200 Diamonds | $5.99 | one-time |
| 13 000 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🤝 Good for making new friends
- 💕 Helped find lifelong friends/partners
- 🌍 Connects people from different places

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Lots of fake/bot accounts
- 🔞 Inappropriate content/requests
- 🕰️ Slow performance and loading issues
- 🔓 Lack of security/verification

**Reported bugs**

- Repeated profiles/unable to add people
- Gems/diamonds not working properly
- Notifications and request tabs not functioning
- Photo upload issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to search by location/distance
- Bring back bio/profile information
- Add age/interest filters
- In-app messaging feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Empath free?

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

### Is Hoop free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Empath or Hoop?

Hoop is rated higher. Empath averages 3.1 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Hoop averages 4.5 from 684K ratings.

### Do Empath or Hoop have ads?

Hoop shows ads; Empath does not.

### Which is updated more often, Empath or Hoop?

Empath ships an update monthly, and Hoop fortnightly. Most recently, Empath was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hoop on November 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.*