Essence 360 vs Surge Fun
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Essence 360
This app is a comprehensive platform for Black women, offering inspiration, career support, community connection, and cultural content. It provides tools for personal and professional growth, wellness, and curated shopping experiences.
- Career development and job opportunities
- Community social space
- Curated news and cultural content
- Wellness tools and meditations
- Shopping for brands and essentials
- Event information and updates
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From headline stories and cultural moments to career support, wellness tools, and community, Essence 360 is your all-in-one destination to live fully, grow intentionally, and stay connected to what matters most. Created by and for Black women, this app brings together every facet of your journey—inspiration, opportunity, joy, and purpose. Whether you’re planning your next move, finding your center, or just taking a moment for you—Essence 360 is here for it. Growth Build toward your future with tools that support your personal and professional evolution. Career Explore the E-Suite for coaching, job opportunities, networking, and resources built for your success. Community Connect and express yourself in Golden Hour, the social space where mood meets meaning. News Stay informed with curated stories from Essence.com, Afropunk, Beautycon, and more. Wellness Tap into meditations, sound healing, breathwork, and daily affirmations. Culture Celebrate creativity and expression through original content, perspectives, and curated experiences. Shopping Find favorites and discover new brands, everyday essentials, and must-have style picks in one curated space. Events Experience the energy of ESSENCE Festival and other signature events from the Essence network of brands—RSVP, explore lineups, and stay in the know with real-time updates. Download Essence 360 and step into a space designed for your whole self—brilliant, bold, and becoming.
Surge Fun
Discover family-friendly entertainment designed for shared experiences. This app provides access to cutting-edge attractions and exclusive offers to enhance your visit.
- Family-friendly entertainment
- Cutting-edge attractions
- Exclusive offers
- Event notifications
- Personalized experiences
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With jam-packed schedules and technology interfering with personal connections, it’s so important to find family-friendly fun that kids and adults can both enjoy. At Surge Entertainment by Drew Brees, families are the heart of our business. We’ve worked hard to create an atmosphere where families can hang out together and enjoy cutting-edge entertainment. Turn on notifications to receive exclusive offers from the Surge close to you!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Surge Fun at 4.6 against Essence 360's 3.2. Surge Fun also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 15%) and device support (3 vs 1). Essence 360's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 24 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Surge Fun holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 93 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Essence 360's written reviews are positive against 38% of Surge Fun's.
Essence 360 ships an update every 5 weeks, Surge Fun every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Essence 360 | Surge Fun |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (32 ratings) | 4.6 (93 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 15.2% of reviews | 37.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 32 | 93 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 24 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Essence Communications Inc | Plondo Network |
Customer experience
Essence 360
Surge Fun
Bugs and requests
Essence 360
Reported bugs
15 issues- App crashes on startup
- App does not open
- Verification code not sent or recognized
- Cannot create a username
- App crashes when entering profile information
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- Login errors ('Oops... an error has occurred')
- Cannot access purchased tickets
- Event information outdated (shows previous year's data)
- Delay in uploading schedule/lineup
- Unable to purchase tickets via app
- Cannot activate festival pass
- App not working for international phone numbers
- App is biased towards US residents
- Favorited events lost after app updates
- App goes black or crashes when trying to RSVP for screenings
Requested features
7 requests- Way to remove followers and block people
- Update event information immediately
- Include a full lineup schedule
- Map of lounges/stages and directions
- Planner to keep up with events
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- Option to check in/secure spots via app
- Shipping VIP items to home
Surge Fun
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Essence 360
No in-app purchases
Surge Fun
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Essence 360 free?
Is Surge Fun free?
Which has better reviews, Essence 360 or Surge Fun?
Do Essence 360 or Surge Fun have ads?
Which is updated more often, Essence 360 or Surge Fun?
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