Making Authentic Friendships vs NerdSync
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Making Authentic Friendships
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.
- Connect with special needs individuals
- Connect with loved ones
- Build meaningful connections
- Find community
- Supportive environment
Read full descriptionHide full description
Social network for special needs individuals and their loved ones.
NerdSync
Read full descriptionHide full description
Find your people. Real connections for real nerds. NerdSync is the friend-matching app for gamers, cosplayers, tabletop players, anime fans, coders, comic readers, and everyone in between. Age 18 and up only. Not a dating app — a community app where you can find a co-op partner, a D&D group, a convention buddy, or a genuine friend who finally gets the reference. Why NerdSync is different: • Vibe matching, not just photos. Answer a few quick questions about how you play and socialize, and we match you with people whose energy lines up with yours. • 40+ interests to pick from. From Warhammer and speedrunning to cosplay and indie games — tag what you actually care about and see who else does too. • Verified profiles. Optional selfie and government-ID verification means the person you meet is the person in the photos. A trust score surfaces the users who've put in the work. • Safer Mode. One toggle filters your feed to show only verified users above a minimum trust score. Built for anyone who wants an extra layer of calm. • Circles for women and LGBTQ+ nerds. Private, opt-in community spaces so you never have to wonder who else gets it. • Approximate location, never exact. We fuzz your coordinates before saving them. You'll see who's near without giving up where you live. • No endless swiping. Connections are mutual — send a request, get accepted, start chatting. No more matching into silence. • Group chats for circles. Talk with your whole community, not just one person at a time. 100% free. Every feature is available to every user — no subscription, no premium tier, no daily limits, no paywall. Built with safety in mind. Reporting and blocking are one tap away. We review every safety report. A dedicated trust & safety team investigates violations. Age-gated. You must be 18 or older to create an account. We verify ages at signup and enforce them on an ongoing basis. Stop scrolling through apps that don't understand what you're looking for. Install NerdSync and find the people who play your games, read your comics, and actually want to meet up. Terms of Use (EULA): https://nerdsync.netlify.app/terms-of-service.html Privacy Policy: https://nerdsync.netlify.app/privacy-policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NerdSync at none against Making Authentic Friendships's 5. NerdSync also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Making Authentic Friendships sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NerdSync asks for nothing beyond the download.
Making Authentic Friendships ships an update every 4 weeks, NerdSync every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Making Authentic Friendships | NerdSync |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (67 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 34.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 67 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Juliana Fetherman | Kenneth Sevier |
Bugs and requests
Making Authentic Friendships
Reported bugs
16 issues- 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
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- App is stuck on subscription page
- Login issues (user/pass not working)
- Cannot upload a picture (custom avatar issue)
- Age displayed incorrectly in profiles
- Friend suggestions not loading
- Cannot select interests/activities
- Keyboard overlays sign-in button
- Buttons are inactive or stuck
- No tech support or contact information available
- App doesn't work or is not active
- Error message about already having an account
Requested features
6 requests- 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
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Make the app free or significantly cheaper
NerdSync
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Making Authentic Friendships
- 1 Month Member Subscription$4.991 Month
- 1 Year Member Subscription$39.991 Year
- 10 Coins$4.99
- 20 Coins$9.99
- 50 Coins$19.99
NerdSync
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Making Authentic Friendships free?
Is NerdSync free?
Do Making Authentic Friendships or NerdSync have ads?
Which is updated more often, Making Authentic Friendships or NerdSync?
Other comparisons
