Comparison

VideoPals vs PenPal Messenger

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

Head to head
About

VideoPals

Connect with people globally through video introductions and direct messaging. Discover new friends by watching their intro videos and sending pal requests. Engage in text or video chats to build lasting connections.

Highlights
  • Watch intro videos
  • Swipe through profiles
  • Send pal requests
  • Text chat
  • Video chat
  • Global community
Features
Read full description

Pen Pals have always been a fun way to stay connected with people all over the world, but has been less common as social media came around... Video Pals goal is to bring that worldwide community back, but with a modern twist! Swipe through profiles and watch their “intro” videos to see if they are someone you’d be interested in talking to! WATCH: A picture is worth a thousand words, but a video is worth a million! See others profiles and watch them introduce yourself so you can actually see what they are like. SAVE FRIENDS: When you see someone’s profile who you want to be friends with, simply send them a pals request. If they accept you’ll be added to each others “My Pals” so you can chat and talk whenever you want! CHAT: Either text or video chat through your pals list and stay connected with your newfound friends from all over the world! COMMUNITY: Video “Pals” are a worldwide community of people who know just how important it is to have friends in life, no matter what age you are or how far away you are. Videopals is free to download and use. Privacy policy: https://videopals.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of service: https://videopals.com/terms-conditions/ If you need any help with videopals or are having any issues, please reach out to us at support@videopals.com.

About

PenPal Messenger

This social networking app facilitates anonymous conversations between matched participants for four weeks. It's designed to foster meaningful connections through a unique dating experience, culminating in a voice call and a formal date.

Highlights
  • Anonymous messaging
  • Participant matching
  • Scheduled voice calls
  • Formal date arrangements
  • Unique dating experience
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Manny P Media's Pen Pal Messenger, the exclusive messenger application for The Good The Bad The Ugly Podcast's Pen Pal Project. This innovative project pairs participants through a thoughtful process of questions and ratings, ensuring they find their best match possible. Once paired, participants gain access to the Pen Pal Messenger app, where they can engage in anonymous conversations with their match for four weeks. The anticipation builds until the 3rd week when a call is arranged, allowing the pairs to hear each other's voices for the first time. Finally, in the last week, they meet formally for a date at a location provided by Manny and Rico, the creators, and hosts of TGTBTU Podcast and Pen'pal project. Be ready to embark on a unique dating experience where all senses are momentarily taken away, leaving room for imagination to flourish. And remember, Pen Pal is watching, so no cheating! Enjoy the journey and welcome to Pen Pal Messenger, where meaningful connections await!

Screenshots

VideoPals4 screens
PenPal Messenger3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PenPal Messenger at none against VideoPals's shown. PenPal Messenger also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). VideoPals's advantage is rating (3.3 vs 3.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, 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

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

VideoPals holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VideoPals ships an update monthly, PenPal Messenger every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
VideoPals versus PenPal Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVideoPalsPenPal Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (17 ratings) — better3.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better4
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB9 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperVideoPalsManny P Media LLC

Customer experience

VideoPals

All ratings19 ratings
Positive47.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative52.6%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

PenPal Messenger

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

VideoPals

No in-app purchases

None

PenPal Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VideoPals free?
VideoPals is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PenPal Messenger free?
PenPal Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VideoPals or PenPal Messenger?
VideoPals is rated higher. VideoPals averages 3.3 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while PenPal Messenger averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.
Do VideoPals or PenPal Messenger have ads?
VideoPals shows ads; PenPal Messenger does not.
Which is updated more often, VideoPals or PenPal Messenger?
VideoPals ships an update monthly, and PenPal Messenger every 3 months. Most recently, VideoPals was updated on November 7, 2026 and PenPal Messenger on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons