Circle Communities vs Beacon by Techne
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Circle Communities
Stay connected with your online communities on the go. This app lets you participate in discussions, join live streams, and track events for any Circle.so community you're a part of. Never miss an update from your creators or fellow members.
- Community discussions
- Event tracking
- Live stream hosting
- On-the-go access
- Message notifications
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The official companion app for your Circle community is here! If you’re a member or creator of a Circle.so community, our app allows you to keep up with your discussions, events, and messages on the go. Join and host live streams, keep track of upcoming events, and never miss a beat on any of your Circle communities.
Beacon by Techne
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Beacon is a map of what your friends are up to and what is happening around town. Light a beacon when you are heading somewhere: a run, a climb, a coffee, the farmers market. Share it with friends or a circle. They see it and can join you. Or share it as a public event, and anyone nearby can light their own beacon for it. - Circles: start a circle and invite friends into it with a link or QR code - Links: share any beacon with a link or QR code, and turn the link off when you like - The map: see who is lit near you and what is on in town - Join: tap a friend's beacon and you are in - Public events: repair cafes, markets and meetups, and who is going - Notifications when someone shares a beacon with you Sign in with your phone number. No ads and no tracking. Usage analytics only if you turn it on, and never shared with another company. Report, block and account deletion are built in. Beacon is made by Techne for Gitcoin and is for people 18 and older.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is chart position: Circle Communities at #81 against Beacon by Techne's unranked. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Circle Communities ships an update fortnightly, Beacon by Techne every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Circle Communities | Beacon by Techne |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (86K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 86K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Best chart rank | #81 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | CircleCo Inc | Lucian Hymer |
Bugs and requests
Circle Communities
Reported bugs
5 issues- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Disappearing messages and notifications
- Inability to access certain communities
- Malformed data errors and login issues
- Compatibility problems with older devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to save draft posts and comments
- Improved text editing and cursor control
- Better video playback controls and functionality
- Syncing notifications and activity across devices
- More customization and personalization options
Beacon by Techne
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Circle Communities
No in-app purchases
Beacon by Techne
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Circle Communities free?
Is Beacon by Techne free?
Do Circle Communities or Beacon by Techne have ads?
Which is updated more often, Circle Communities or Beacon by Techne?
Other comparisons
