# Scouting vs Gabb Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: Gabb Messenger at 3.7 against Scouting's 2.0. Scouting's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Gabb Messenger holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 930 and 918 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of Scouting's written reviews are positive against 19% of Gabb Messenger's.

Scouting ships an update fortnightly, Gabb Messenger every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scouting | Gabb Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (930 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scouting/id1218464473/reviews) | **[3.7 (918 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gabb-messenger/id1617858168/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **930** | 918 |
| Positive reviews | 12.2% of reviews | **18.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 114 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Boy Scouts of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/327240448) | [Gabb Wireless, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509258259) |

## What reviewers say

### Scouting

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scouting/id1218464473)

This app helps parents and Scouts track their journey from Lion to Eagle Scout. It focuses on individual progress and requires a my.scouting.org login for parents or youth accounts.

**Highlights:** Track progress from Lion to Eagle Scout, Parent and youth account support, Individual experience tracking, Requires my.scouting.org login

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for tracking progress
- 🚀 Solid app when it works
- 🌟 Good for monitoring scout's progress

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
- 🔁 Endless update loop
- 🤯 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Login and account issues
- 📆 Calendar and event tracking problems

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect rank and requirement completion tracking
- Unable to submit advancement requirements
- Inability to remove guardians
- Outdated merit badge listings
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- PDF version of scout handbook
- Integration with device calendar
- Ability to add photos and comments
- Better notifications and alerts
- Improved tracking for merit badges and advancements


### Gabb Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gabb-messenger/id1617858168)

This app enables safe video calls between friends and family and Gabb kids, with smart filtration to monitor for potential harm. Parents can access robust controls to manage their child's messaging, including flagged content, contact lists, and deletion settings, ensuring peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Safe video calling with smart filtration, Parental controls for messaging, Flagged content monitoring, Contact management, Message deletion settings, Manage multiple devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps catch inappropriate messages
- 🔒 Allows parent control of contacts
- 👍 Provides peace of mind for parents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unreliable syncing and notifications
- 🐛 Inability to view flagged messages
- 🔒 Overly restrictive features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing on launch
- Syncing issues between phone and app
- Unreliable notifications of flagged messages

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and reliability
- Better visibility into flagged messages
- More flexible parental control options
- Ability to monitor calls and location


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scouting free?

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

### Is Gabb Messenger free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scouting or Gabb Messenger?

Gabb Messenger is rated higher. Scouting averages 2.0 out of 5 from 930 ratings, while Gabb Messenger averages 3.7 from 918 ratings.

### Do Scouting or Gabb Messenger have ads?

Neither Scouting nor Gabb Messenger shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scouting or Gabb Messenger?

Scouting ships an update fortnightly, and Gabb Messenger every 5 weeks. Most recently, Scouting was updated on October 21, 2026 and Gabb Messenger on October 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.*