Comparison

Vicinity vs buzz

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

Head to head
About

Vicinity

Connect instantly with people nearby through live chatrooms and private messaging. This social tool aims to foster real-time connections within communities, encouraging face-to-face interactions. Discover local events, ask for recommendations, or simply chat with those around you.

Highlights
  • Live chatrooms based on location radius
  • Private messaging
  • Place-based voice/chat rooms
  • Voice and video calling (Premium)
  • Dark mode support
  • Moderated chat for safety
Features
Read full description

Vicinity is a spatial communication network — the group chat for IRL. A real-time social layer tied to where you are, not who you follow. No algorithms — just your local world, live. Open the app and connect with everyone nearby across multiple topic channels. Send message requests, create group chats, or join landmark rooms at iconic locations worldwide — but only if you're physically there. The internet you walk through, not the one you scroll. As connection with those physically around us quietly erodes, Vicinity gives your location a shared context — a common channel for real community. Potential uses • Meet new people nearby • Organize meetups by topic • Chat with others at a sports game, bar, or concert • Coordinate a class study group • Get help from a neighbor • Invite others to a block party • Recommend shows, restaurants, or events to people nearby • Ask locals for tips when traveling • Coordinate group activities • Host a game night with people nearby — trivia, chess, poker, and more Core features • Vicinity chat: multiple topic channels for your radius • Live Games: host or join real-time multiplayer games with people nearby — trivia, chess, poker, blackjack, werewolf, mahjong, and more • Landmark rooms: audio and text chat at iconic locations worldwide — only if you're physically there • Private messaging: send message requests to anyone you meet in the chatroom • Profile photos: free for everyone • Premium: group chats, photos in DMs, voice & video calls, ad-free, and more Dark Mode Vicinity supports both light and dark mode. Privacy and security All location-based rooms are fully moderated. Distance sharing is optional — you control what you share. Download Vicinity. Community restored. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

buzz

Connect with your local community through location-based group chats. Discover events, find friends, and engage in conversations happening around you. Secure a unique handle and join the buzz in your city.

Highlights
  • Location-based group chats
  • Discover local events
  • Create or join communities
  • Find people with mutual interests
  • Coordinate local activities
  • Unique handle reservation
Features
Read full description

buzz. is the best way to connect with your local community! Join or create location-based group chats and discover what's happening around you. Reserve your unique handle and start buzzing today! Find friends, engage in local conversations, and be part of the buzz in your city.

Screenshots

Vicinity4 screens
buzz4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: buzz at none against Vicinity's 1. buzz also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 4 days). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and device support 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. Vicinity sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $10.99 per year. buzz asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

buzz holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Vicinity's written reviews are positive against 92% of buzz's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vicinity ships an update every 4 days, buzz daily. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Vicinity versus buzz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVicinitybuzz
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (37 ratings)4.8 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews92.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37 — better19
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB89 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperEsketit LLCSachin Muralidhar

Customer experience

Vicinity

All ratings37 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

buzz

All ratings19 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Vicinity

Subscriptions1
  • Subscription Features$10.991 Year
None

buzz

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Vicinity free?
Vicinity is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is buzz free?
buzz is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Vicinity or buzz?
buzz is rated higher. Vicinity averages 4.6 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while buzz averages 4.8 from 19 ratings.
Do Vicinity or buzz have ads?
Vicinity shows ads; buzz does not.
Which is updated more often, Vicinity or buzz?
Vicinity ships an update every 4 days, and buzz daily. Most recently, Vicinity was updated on September 8, 2026 and buzz on September 19, 2026.

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