# Just Checking In. vs Check Up

The clearest difference is rating: Check Up at 5.0 against Just Checking In.'s 4.1. Check Up also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 76%). Just Checking In.'s advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (87 vs 12). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Just Checking In. sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Check Up sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Check Up holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Just Checking In. has 87 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Just Checking In.'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Check Up's.

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, Check Up every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Just Checking In. | Check Up |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-checking-in/id1507778735/reviews) | **[5.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-up-keep-friends-close/id6503481803/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 57 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Heraclius LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507778734) | [Ginkgo Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723258375) |

## What reviewers say

### Just Checking In.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-checking-in/id1507778735)

Stay connected with loved ones by sharing your well-being status with simple check-ins. Receive notifications if a check-in is missed, ensuring safety and peace of mind for both you and your contacts. Strengthen bonds and support mental health with this convenient companion app.

**Highlights:** Simple check-ins to share well-being, Notifications for missed check-ins, Customizable check-in reminders, Create circles of friends and family, Emergency text alerts for missed check-ins, Vacation mode

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JCI Premium Account | $4.99 | per month |
| Duo Plan | $30.00 | per year |
| Advocate | $42.00 | per year |
| Premium | $42.00 | per year |
| Family Plan | $80.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy-to-use interface
- 💡 Innovative concept for mental health tracking
- 🔗 Effective support circle/accountability feature
- ⏰ Customizable reminder notifications
- 📊 Mood history and tracking capability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app freezing and crashes
- 🐛 Setup/onboarding process broken
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Unreliable notification system
- 🐛 Missing check-in alerts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes during onboarding/tour
- Cannot scroll through setup screens
- Keyboard covers input fields during registration
- Inconsistent reminder notifications
- False alerts about missed check-ins

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Mental health articles and educational content
- Mood trend graphs and analytics
- Direct messaging between circle members
- Suggested mood descriptors/prompts


### Check Up

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-up-keep-friends-close/id6503481803)

Easily manage your social connections by logging interactions, taking notes, and setting reminders to check in regularly. Strengthen relationships by ensuring you stay in touch with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Add and manage contacts, Log interactions and notes, Set regular check-in reminders, Track time spent with contacts, Unlimited contacts with Premium, Privacy-focused, data stays local

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Check Up Premium - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Check Up Premium - Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Just Checking In. free?

Just Checking In. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Check Up free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Just Checking In. or Check Up?

Check Up is rated higher. Just Checking In. averages 4.1 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Check Up averages 5.0 from 12 ratings.

### Do Just Checking In. or Check Up have ads?

Neither Just Checking In. nor Check Up shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Just Checking In. or Check Up?

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, and Check Up every 6 months. Most recently, Just Checking In. was updated on October 24, 2026 and Check Up on October 11, 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.*