Comparison

Group Guide vs Reception App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Group Guide

Features
Read full description

Helpful to keep any group organized, families, teams, churches, schools, activity groups, and more. Any family can use the Group Guide mobile app for phones and tablets. See and sign up for upcoming activities and pay online, right when you sign up. In addition, family information is used to determine what activities might be available for your children, and you can only sign up for activities that apply to your children’s age group (administrators can override). Activities and family accounts are created using the included FREE family database web site, which also provides administrator access to the family database, a private email message board, and more. Group Guide Features: View list of upcoming activities and events Sign up for activities Pay for activities See activities already signed up View group contact list Send alert to group administrators or activity leaders Sign up for participant or volunteer positions Order items on special order activities Web application features: Families enter their family and student information along with login information. View families waiting to be activated. Include medical information and special needs for students. Families keep the information up-to-date. Broadcast emails to all families. Moderate and approve messages. Messages kept in an ​online forum for later viewing. Want to create and administer a group? Go to https://hub.lovemygroups.com/newsite

About

Reception App

Transform your iPad into a smart, contactless reception system. This app allows visitors to check in quickly and sends instant notifications to staff via integrated chat tools. It's ideal for offices, clinics, salons, and retail stores to streamline front desk operations.

Highlights
  • Contactless visitor check-in
  • Instant staff notifications
  • Customizable check-in buttons and fields
  • Integration with Slack, Teams, Chatwork
  • Custom branding options
  • Energy-saving standby mode
  • App lock for guided access
Features
Read full description

Transform your iPad into a smart, contactless reception system. Reception App: iPad Check-in lets visitors check in quickly, while staff receive instant notifications via Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Chatwork. Perfect for offices, clinics, salons, and retail stores, this visitor management system streamlines front desk operations and improves visitor experience. With Reception App, you can set up a fully functional reception in minutes—no sales calls, no complicated onboarding, no extra hardware. Simply install the app on your iPad, customize the buttons and fields, and start receiving real-time visitor alerts. Affordable pricing and a 31-day free trial make it easy to start without risk. 【Who Can Benefit】 - Offices & Coworking Spaces: Manage visitors, deliveries, and meetings without dedicated reception staff, while keeping teams updated instantly via Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Chatwork. - Clinics & Medical Practices: Reduce waiting room congestion and notify staff instantly when patients arrive. - Beauty Salons & Spas: Welcome guests and alert stylists or therapists without interrupting service. - Retail Stores & Showrooms: Greet customers and route them to the right staff without delay. - Small Businesses: Replace manual visitor logs with an automated, professional solution. 【Key Features】 ■ Customizable Check-in Buttons Create buttons like “Interview,” “Delivery,” or “Guest” based on visitor type. Assign different notification destinations for each button, such as a Slack channel or Teams group. ■ Flexible Input Fields Choose which details to collect: visitor name, staff to visit, purpose of visit, and more. Hide unnecessary fields to keep the process quick and user-friendly. ■ Destination-based Notifications Send interview notifications to HR, delivery notifications to admin—no more phone transfers or wasted time. ■ Custom Branding Upload your company logo, choose background images, and match your brand colors. Edit button labels and instructions to suit your needs. ■ Energy-saving Standby Mode The screen dims after 30 seconds of inactivity to prevent burn-in and save power. Wake it with a tap. ■ App Lock (Guided Access) Lock the app to prevent accidental exits or misuse. Learn how: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202612 【Advantages Over Other Apps】 - No sales calls or inquiries required before starting. - Install and configure within minutes. - Affordable at $9.69/month, much lower than many competing reception systems. - Works entirely on your iPad—no expensive kiosk hardware needed. 【Supported Chat Tools】 - Slack - Chatwork - Microsoft Teams (Microsoft 365) 【Pricing】 Enjoy all features free for the first 31 days. After the trial, the app continues to work, but a subscription removes the payment screen. Subscription: $9.69/month, auto-renewable. 【Subscription Details】 - Payment is charged to your iTunes Account. - Subscriptions renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal in your App Store account settings. - If you purchase during the free trial, the unused portion of the trial is forfeited. 【Privacy Policy & Terms】 Privacy Policy: https://reception.sorovan.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://reception.sorovan.com/tos Photo Credits: Photo by Hannah Nelson from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-a-woman-near-wall-1065084/ Photo by Areous Ahmad from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-smiling-man-2122949/ Photo by mentatdgt from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-white-sleeveless-shirt-and-white-denim-shorts-1082962/ Photo by Dalila Dalprat from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-gray-shirt-standing-while-smiling-1844547/

Screenshots

Group Guide4 screens
Reception App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Group Guide at none against Reception App's 1. Group Guide also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). Reception App's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reception App sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.69 per month. Group Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Group Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, Reception App every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Group Guide versus Reception App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGroup GuideReception App
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.413.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLovemygroups.comNaoki Oguchi

In-app purchases

None

Group Guide

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Reception App

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly fee (auto-renewal)$9.691 Month

Questions

Is Group Guide free?
Group Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reception App free?
Reception App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Group Guide or Reception App have ads?
Neither Group Guide nor Reception App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Group Guide or Reception App?
Group Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, and Reception App every 4 months. Most recently, Group Guide was updated on October 26, 2026 and Reception App on October 20, 2026.

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