# Parler vs circles*

The clearest difference is review sentiment: circles* at 100% against Parler's 44%. circles* also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Parler's advantage is ratings volume (175 vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Parler sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. circles* asks for nothing beyond the download.

circles* holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Parler has 175 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Parler's written reviews are positive against 100% of circles*'s.

Parler ships an update every 6 days, circles* every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Parler | circles* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (175 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parler/id1402727988/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **175** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 44.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 91 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sovren Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877928309) | [CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887701443) |

## What reviewers say

### Parler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parler/id1402727988)

A social media platform focused on free expression and open dialogue. It allows users to share thoughts, engage with diverse perspectives, and connect with communities without censorship. Customize your profile and control your privacy.

**Highlights:** Free expression without censorship, Engage with diverse perspectives, Authentic content feed, Customizable user profiles, Posts & Reposts, Groups & Hashtags, Privacy and content control

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parler Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Founding member | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unbiased platform for free speech
- 🔓 No censorship or content moderation
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Potential to be a great alternative to Twitter
- 🤝 Welcoming community for conservative views

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy performance
- 🔒 Requires phone number for verification
- 🤔 Perceived right-wing bias in content
- ⚠️ Concerns about hate speech and extremism
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Issues with login and account creation
- Inability to upload media and videos
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improved user interface and experience
- Better content moderation and reporting tools
- Ability to delete account and remove personal data
- Sync contacts and follow existing connections
- More diverse content and user base


### circles*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004)

A private messaging application designed for intimate communication with close contacts. Share direct and group messages, voice notes, and ephemeral photos or videos. Your identity and profile are synced from an existing account, ensuring a seamless and secure experience.

**Highlights:** Direct and group messaging, Voice messages, Ephemeral photo/video sharing (Moments), Viewership tracking for Moments, Profile sync from existing account

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Parler free?

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

### Is circles* free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Parler or circles*?

circles* is rated higher. Parler averages 3.9 out of 5 from 175 ratings, while circles* averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Parler or circles* have ads?

Parler shows ads; circles* does not.

### Which is updated more often, Parler or circles*?

Parler ships an update every 6 days, and circles* every 2 weeks. Most recently, Parler was updated on October 20, 2026 and circles* on October 17, 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.*