# Garmin Messenger™ vs circles*

The clearest difference is review sentiment: circles* at 100% against Garmin Messenger™'s 20%. circles* also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Garmin Messenger™'s advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 1) and chart position (#86 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, 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.

circles* holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Messenger™ has 14K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Garmin Messenger™'s written reviews are positive against 100% of circles*'s.

Garmin Messenger™ ships an update every 3 weeks, circles* fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Messenger™ | circles* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 19.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#86** | — |
| Size | 107 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887701443) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Messenger™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Communicate globally with friends and family, even without cell service. Pair with a compatible satellite communicator for secure messaging and SOS capabilities. Enjoy automatic network switching for reliable connectivity and real-time location sharing.

**Highlights:** Global messaging, Interactive SOS, Group messaging, Photo and voice messaging, Automatic network switching, Real-time location sharing (LiveTrack)

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great messaging functionality
- 👍 Seamless cellular and satellite communication
- 🚀 Consolidated messaging experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Activation and verification issues
- 🐛 Pairing problems with InReach devices
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 👎 Difficult to use and navigate
- 👎 Lack of support for older InReach models

**Reported bugs**

- No verification code received
- App freezes during activation
- Inconsistent behavior between app and device
- Messaging not working in areas with no cell coverage

**Requested features**

- Ability to message non-Messenger contacts
- Improved contact management and syncing
- Apple Watch compatibility
- Ability to delete messages on paired devices
- Better integration with Garmin Explore app


### circles*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004)

A private messaging application designed for intimate communication with close contacts. Share direct and group messages, voice notes, and ephemeral photos or videos. Your identity and profile are synced from an existing account, ensuring a seamless and secure experience.

**Highlights:** Direct and group messaging, Voice messages, Ephemeral photo/video sharing (Moments), Viewership tracking for Moments, Profile sync from existing account

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Messenger™ free?

Garmin Messenger™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is circles* free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Messenger™ or circles*?

circles* is rated higher. Garmin Messenger™ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while circles* averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Garmin Messenger™ or circles* have ads?

Neither Garmin Messenger™ nor circles* shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Messenger™ or circles*?

Garmin Messenger™ ships an update every 3 weeks, and circles* fortnightly. Most recently, Garmin Messenger™ was updated on October 29, 2026 and circles* on October 24, 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.*