Comparison

Hugs App vs Send A Hug

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hugs App

This app simulates the heartbeat of another person to convey affection and support remotely. It allows users to feel a connection during video calls or send a virtual hug to loved ones, bridging physical distance.

Highlights
  • Simulates heartbeat for connection
  • Remote hug sending
  • Visual connection during calls
  • No data collection
  • Simple interface
Read full description

How can we convey the warmth of human touch when hugs are not allowed? Hugs show appreciation, affection and help us through difficult times when words are not enough. Now more than ever, we need them. Star House is Central Ohio's only drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness. They offer young people a safe space, immediate access to basic needs and vital connections to stabilizing resources. Because of the current situation, staff members cannot give hugs to the kids they care for. In this era of job loss, blinding stress and health concerns, a little empathy and tenderness can be crucial. In an effort to make things better, our team developed a simple variation on hugs and an app that helps bridge the distance between staff and youth. Combined with a self-hug, the Hugs app simulates the heartbeat of the person you are sharing the moment with. Give a hug when you are practicing social distancing, during a video call, or send a hug remotely. How does it work? Launch the app, hold your phone to your chest and feel the heartbeat while visually connecting with the other person. To send a remote hug, enter your name and the name of a loved one and click send. No data will ever be collected about you or the hug receiver by our app. This simple solution can be used by everyone for any reason and we hope you will share a hug with anyone who needs one.

About

Send A Hug

Send a virtual hug to friends and family to show you're thinking of them. This free and ad-free application offers a simple way to connect and express care.

Highlights
  • Send virtual hugs
  • Connect with friends
  • Express care
  • Free to use
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Want to quickly let your friends know you're thinking about them? Try sending them a hug! I built Send A Hug because I wanted a quick way to reach out to the people I care about and send them a little nudge knowing they're on my mind. The app is totally free and ad-free.

Screenshots

Hugs App3 screens
Send A Hug3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Send A Hug at every 2 days against Hugs App's every 9 months. Hugs App's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17). On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hugs App against 5.0 for Send A Hug. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hugs App ships an update every 9 months, Send A Hug every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hugs App versus Send A Hug: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHugs AppSend A Hug
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (13 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNovvia LLCMishrasoft LLC

In-app purchases

None

Hugs App

No in-app purchases

None

Send A Hug

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hugs App free?
Hugs App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Send A Hug free?
Send A Hug is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hugs App or Send A Hug?
Hugs App and Send A Hug are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 13 and 4 ratings respectively.
Do Hugs App or Send A Hug have ads?
Neither Hugs App nor Send A Hug shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hugs App or Send A Hug?
Hugs App ships an update every 9 months, and Send A Hug every 2 days. Most recently, Hugs App was updated on October 17, 2026 and Send A Hug on October 25, 2026.

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