# W | Bear vs Encountr

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Encountr at 100% against W | Bear's 40%. Encountr also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). W | Bear's advantage is ratings volume (2.5K vs 2). 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 Encountr sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Encountr holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: W | Bear has 2.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of W | Bear's written reviews are positive against 100% of Encountr's.

W | Bear ships an update every 4 weeks, Encountr monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | W | Bear | Encountr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/w-bear/id1127795024/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encountr/id6475962259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 40.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 85 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [gNetLabs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127795023) | [Encountr, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725441701) |

## 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


### Encountr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encountr/id6475962259)

This app fosters authentic connections within the LGBTQ+ community through live public chat rooms, private messaging, and video calls. It moves beyond endless swiping to encourage meaningful conversations and real encounters.

**Highlights:** Live public chat rooms, Private messaging, Photo and video sharing, Create custom chat rooms, Incognito mode, Unlimited profile browsing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month | $6.99 | per month |
| 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Months | $44.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is W | Bear free?

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

### Is Encountr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, W | Bear or Encountr?

Encountr is rated higher. W | Bear averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Encountr averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

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

Neither W | Bear nor Encountr shows ads.

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

W | Bear ships an update every 4 weeks, and Encountr monthly. Most recently, W | Bear was updated on September 26, 2026 and Encountr on August 16, 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.*