# Heartbeat Chat vs OpenWater Group

The clearest difference is rating: OpenWater Group at 4.9 against Heartbeat Chat's 4.0. Heartbeat Chat's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

OpenWater Group holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 137 and 57 respectively.

Heartbeat Chat ships an update every 5 weeks, OpenWater Group every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Heartbeat Chat | OpenWater Group |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartbeat-chat/id1540206041/reviews) | **[4.9 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openwater-group/id6480324267/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **137** | 57 |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 78 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Heartbeat Chat, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1540206043) | [A3 Network, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1738706244) |

## What reviewers say

### Heartbeat Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartbeat-chat/id1540206041)

Build and manage your online communities with a versatile platform.  Engage members through chat, voice, and video, and create a knowledge base for lasting discussions.  Integrate with other tools to automate actions and track growth.

**Highlights:** Customizable channels for chat and posts, Voice rooms for real-time conversations, Presence indicators for a shared room feel, Knowledge base creation from discussions, Integration with Zoom, Google Calendar, Salesforce, etc., Automated community match-ups and intros, Permission management and payment processing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Fast and streamlined experience
- 💡 Great for community building and hosting
- ✨ Elegant toggling between memberships
- ✅ User-friendly features for admins

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and buggy performance
- 🐌 Slow loading times
- ❌ Difficult login process for users
- 📱 Poor iPad optimization
- ⚠️ Invasion of privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Audio playback stops when phone locks
- Users struggle with logging in
- App is not optimized for iPad, especially in landscape view
- Invasion of privacy concerns regarding photo access
- Notifications are inconsistent and important messages are missed

**Requested features**

- Allow audio to play while phone locks
- Improve iPad optimization, especially in landscape view
- Fix the app icon to not resemble a dating app
- Allow users to change their RSVP to an event after confirming
- Enable users to join public threads via the app


### OpenWater Group

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openwater-group/id6480324267)

This platform connects accomplished professionals to foster new opportunities and build a strong community. Members can expand their networks, learn from peers, and access exclusive benefits like events and courses.

**Highlights:** Exclusive professional community, Expanded peer networks, In-person networking events, Professional development courses, Virtual events and webinars

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Heartbeat Chat free?

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

### Is OpenWater Group free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Heartbeat Chat or OpenWater Group?

OpenWater Group is rated higher. Heartbeat Chat averages 4.0 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while OpenWater Group averages 4.9 from 57 ratings.

### Do Heartbeat Chat or OpenWater Group have ads?

Neither Heartbeat Chat nor OpenWater Group shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Heartbeat Chat or OpenWater Group?

Heartbeat Chat ships an update every 5 weeks, and OpenWater Group every 5 months. Most recently, Heartbeat Chat was updated on November 7, 2026 and OpenWater Group on November 4, 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.*