# Making Authentic Friendships vs GIGPOOL

The clearest difference is rating: GIGPOOL at 5.0 against Making Authentic Friendships's 2.9. GIGPOOL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 weeks). Making Authentic Friendships's advantage is ratings volume (67 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Making Authentic Friendships sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. GIGPOOL asks for nothing beyond the download.

GIGPOOL holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Making Authentic Friendships has 67 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Making Authentic Friendships ships an update every 4 weeks, GIGPOOL every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Making Authentic Friendships | GIGPOOL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/making-authentic-friendships/id1538026980/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gigpool/id6738061322/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **67** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 34.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 56 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Juliana Fetherman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538026982) | [Peter Forbes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1719636306) |

## What reviewers say

### Making Authentic Friendships

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/making-authentic-friendships/id1538026980)

This social network connects individuals with special needs and their families. It provides a safe and supportive space for users to build meaningful connections and find community.

**Highlights:** Connect with special needs individuals, Connect with loved ones, Build meaningful connections, Find community, Supportive environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Member Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Member Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 10 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 20 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 50 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helps make authentic friendships
- 👍 Positive impact on confidence and happiness
- 👍 Creates a sense of belonging
- 👍 Supports users with neurodivergence
- 👍 Helpful for making connections

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive subscription model
- 💸 Misleading free trial claims
- 💸 Charges users with limited income
- 💸 App is not free
- 💸 Predatory pricing

**Reported bugs**

- App takes a long time to load
- App is slow and buggy
- App freezes after login
- Cannot exit subscription screen
- Charged after canceling free trial

**Requested features**

- Allow users to set age filters
- Improve friend suggestion intelligence
- Add more descriptors for cognitive abilities/challenges
- Offer a version for younger teens (11-16)
- Expand filters for interests and locations


### GIGPOOL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gigpool/id6738061322)

Instantly create social spaces at events like concerts or parks. Form groups on the spot, invite others, and chat in real-time to enhance your experiences and create memories.

**Highlights:** Instant group creation at events, Real-time chat functionality, Invite others to join groups, Connect with people at venues, Create memorable experiences

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Making Authentic Friendships free?

Making Authentic Friendships is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GIGPOOL free?

GIGPOOL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Making Authentic Friendships or GIGPOOL?

GIGPOOL is rated higher. Making Authentic Friendships averages 2.9 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while GIGPOOL averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Making Authentic Friendships or GIGPOOL have ads?

Neither Making Authentic Friendships nor GIGPOOL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Making Authentic Friendships or GIGPOOL?

Making Authentic Friendships ships an update every 4 weeks, and GIGPOOL every 3 days. Most recently, Making Authentic Friendships was updated on October 3, 2026 and GIGPOOL on October 13, 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.*