# Just Checking In. vs Giftahead

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Just Checking In. at 15.1 against Giftahead's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Giftahead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, Giftahead every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Just Checking In. | Giftahead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-checking-in/id1507778735/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **87** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 57 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Heraclius LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507778734) | [Remi Herbiet](https://appshunter.io/developer/1493980634) |

## 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


### Giftahead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giftahead-birthday-countdown/id6803614409)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Just Checking In. free?

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

### Is Giftahead free?

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

### Do Just Checking In. or Giftahead have ads?

Neither Just Checking In. nor Giftahead shows ads.

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

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, and Giftahead every 3 days. Most recently, Just Checking In. was updated on October 24, 2026 and Giftahead on October 7, 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.*