# FET vs Beaconaut

The clearest difference is rating: Beaconaut at 5.0 against FET's 4.3. Beaconaut also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). FET's advantage is ratings volume (26K vs 1) and chart position (#50 vs unranked). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FET sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Beaconaut asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beaconaut holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FET has 26K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

FET ships an update every 6 weeks, Beaconaut every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FET | Beaconaut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fet-alternative-dating/id1478870872/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaconaut/id6793691435/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | — |
| Size | 240 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ideawise Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/719462186) | [FutureNow, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/6793691437) |

## What reviewers say

### FET

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fet-alternative-dating/id1478870872)

**Currently charting:** #50 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #139 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app offers an open-minded community for singles and couples exploring alternative lifestyles. Connect through chat rooms, groups, and forums, or find local events. It prioritizes honest communication and consent for various relationship dynamics.

**Highlights:** Open-minded community, Chat rooms and private messages, Groups and forums, Local events and meetups, Alternative lifestyle dating, Verified profiles and discretion

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Membership | $10.99 | per month |
| 1 Month | $18.49 | per month |
| 1 Month | $19.99 | per month |
| 1 Month | $21.99 | per month |
| 6 Months | $63.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 Months | $79.99 | per year |
| 12 Months | $90.99 | per year |
| 1000 Points | $6.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Points | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth app experience
- 👍 Respectful community
- 🔒 Strict moderation
- 💡 Unique features like spanking and gifting
- 👍 Easy to navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy notifications and messaging
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🤖 Presence of fake/inactive profiles
- 🚫 Strict rules leading to bans
- 🕰️ Slow verification process

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts randomly getting logged out
- Issues with photo uploads and verification
- Messaging system glitches
- Inconsistent app performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Improved filtering options
- Faster verification process
- Better moderation of fake profiles
- More inclusive gender/sexuality options
- Ability to delete/deactivate account


### Beaconaut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaconaut/id6793691435)

This app facilitates spontaneous social connections by allowing users to share their current location with trusted friends. It focuses on low-pressure invitations and a sense of shared presence, rather than direct navigation or performance metrics.

**Highlights:** Send temporary location beacons, See friends' general presence on a globe, Invite-only circles, No public profiles or performance metrics, Temporary beacons expire automatically, Shared gallery within circles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FET free?

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

### Is Beaconaut free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FET or Beaconaut?

Beaconaut is rated higher. FET averages 4.3 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while Beaconaut averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FET or Beaconaut have ads?

FET shows ads; Beaconaut does not.

### Which is updated more often, FET or Beaconaut?

FET ships an update every 6 weeks, and Beaconaut every 5 days. Most recently, FET was updated on November 9, 2026 and Beaconaut on October 31, 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.*