# SideGuide vs Igloo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SideGuide at 90% against Igloo's 43%. SideGuide also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (4.1 vs 3.7). Igloo's advantage is ratings volume (119 vs 16). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. SideGuide asks for nothing beyond the download.

SideGuide holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Igloo has 119 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of SideGuide's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

SideGuide ships an update every 3 weeks, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideGuide | Igloo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideguide/id1146285685/reviews)** | [3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **119** |
| Positive reviews | **89.7% of reviews** | 43.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dito Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1076141818) | [Eskimo Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037652122) |

## What reviewers say

### SideGuide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideguide/id1146285685)

Get advice on what to say in any social, romantic, or professional situation. Ask questions and receive anonymous ratings on your messages before sending them. Search a community-driven repository for guidance on common dilemmas.

**Highlights:** Crowdsourced advice platform, Anonymous message rating (1-5 scale), Searchable message repository, Guidance for social dilemmas, Help with romantic quandaries, Professional advice assistance

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Igloo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560)

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

**Highlights:** Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers, Redesigned user interface with themes, Optimized for bouncers (ZNC), Comprehensive network support, SSL/TLS encryption, Inline media viewing, VoiceOver accessibility

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly License | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly License | $7.99 | per year |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime License (Upgrade) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
- 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
- 💬 Active developer with responsive support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
- 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
- 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
- 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
- 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

**Reported bugs**

- App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
- Theme selection not persisting between app launches
- User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
- Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
- Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive

**Requested features**

- Restore /ignore command for blocking users
- IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
- DCC file transfer support
- Ability to hide/disable Slap function
- Color customization for usernames


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideGuide free?

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

### Is Igloo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SideGuide or Igloo?

SideGuide is rated higher. SideGuide averages 4.1 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

### Do SideGuide or Igloo have ads?

Neither SideGuide nor Igloo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SideGuide or Igloo?

SideGuide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, SideGuide was updated on October 12, 2026 and Igloo on October 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.*