# W | Bear vs Balma

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Balma at 100% against W | Bear's 40%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. W | Bear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Balma sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

W | Bear ships an update every 4 weeks, Balma fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | W | Bear | Balma |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/w-bear/id1127795024/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 85 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [gNetLabs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127795023) | [Balma App LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497904668) |

## What reviewers say

### W | Bear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/w-bear/id1127795024)

This social networking app connects individuals within the gay bear community. Build meaningful relationships, share your life through photos and videos, and discover local and global events. It's an inclusive space for diverse identities to connect and celebrate.

**Highlights:** Connect with users nearby or globally, Explore profiles with shared interests, Share photos and videos, Discover local and global events, Inclusive community for diverse identities, Intuitive and easy-to-use interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month | $12.99 | per month |
| 3 Months | $28.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Great community
- 📷 Visually appealing interface
- 🔒 Respects user privacy
- 💰 Worthwhile subscription
- 🐻 Specific to bears/chasers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- ⏱️ Slow performance and loading times
- 🔍 Lack of search/filtering options
- 🔒 Restrictive for non-subscribers
- 🔧 Lack of updates and bug fixes

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when switching between profiles
- Inability to delete account or photos
- Inconsistent behavior when blocking users
- Photos not showing up in global feeds
- Login issues and account lockouts

**Requested features**

- Ability to manage private album access
- Improved notification management
- Dark mode option
- Better photo/video upload and editing tools
- In-app support and feedback channels


### Balma

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balma/id6444077334)

Connect with South Asian LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies in a safe, inclusive space. Discover local meetups, join communities, and enjoy live broadcasts and video chats. Features robust safety measures for a secure experience.

**Highlights:** User profiles with detailed information, Live video broadcasting with virtual gifts, Secure messaging with photo and video sharing, Location-based connections for local meetups, Interest-based community groups, Video chat for face-to-face conversations, Event listings for LGBTQIA+ gatherings, Travel mode for connecting in new locations

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Plan | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly Plan | $89.99 | per year |
| 100 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 500 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 5000 | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is W | Bear free?

W | Bear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Balma free?

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

### Do W | Bear or Balma have ads?

Neither W | Bear nor Balma shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, W | Bear or Balma?

W | Bear ships an update every 4 weeks, and Balma fortnightly. Most recently, W | Bear was updated on October 15, 2026 and Balma on September 21, 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.*