# bubble with STARS vs Phoning

The clearest difference is rating: Phoning at 4.0 against bubble with STARS's 3.3. Phoning also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (54% vs 36%). bubble with STARS's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. bubble with STARS sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $0.69 per month and Phoning sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Phoning holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phoning has 736 ratings behind it against 78, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of bubble with STARS's written reviews are positive against 54% of Phoning's.

bubble with STARS ships an update every 3 weeks, Phoning every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | bubble with STARS | Phoning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-with-stars/id1556582179/reviews) | **[4.0 (736 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoning/id1627432527/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 78 | **736** |
| Positive reviews | 35.9% of reviews | **53.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 61 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dear U Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460356116) | [WEVERSE COMPANY Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456559071) |

## What reviewers say

### bubble with STARS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-with-stars/id1556582179)

Connect directly with your favorite idols through private messages and exclusive content. Share your day, send replies, and even enjoy live chats. Celebrate special anniversaries and communicate in your own language.

**Highlights:** Private messages from idols, Exclusive idol content, Live chat with bias, Reply to idols, Anniversary tracking, Multilingual chat

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| bubble FONT YEJUN | $0.69 | per month |
| OnlyOneOf 1 Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| A.C.E 1 Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| I.M Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| PLAVE 1 Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| ZEROBASEONE 1 Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| TONY Ticket | $3.99 | per month |
| ARTMS 1 Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| WONHO Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| KANG HYEWON Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| KIM MIN JU Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| STAYC 1 Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| DKB 1 Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| B.I Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| Kep1er 1 Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| TEMPEST 1 Ticket | $4.49 | per month |
| PLAVE 2 Tickets | $6.99 | per month |
| ZEROBASEONE 2 Tickets | $6.99 | per month |
| ZEROBASEONE 3 Tickets | $9.99 | per month |
| PLAVE 5 Tickets | $15.99 | per month |


### Phoning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoning/id1627432527)

Connect with your favorite K-pop group, NewJeans, on a personal level. Share daily life updates through messages, photos, and videos, and stay informed with their calendar. Become closer than ever through interactive features and live streams.

**Highlights:** Live streams with NewJeans, Direct messaging, Photo and video sharing, Personalized calendars, Friendship building

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $8.49 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $84.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Cute and nostalgic design
- 🤩 Innovative concept
- 🐰 Great way to connect with NewJeans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model is too expensive
- 🔒 Most features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🇰🇷 Lack of English translation for messages

**Reported bugs**

- ID card and album features not working
- Constant log-outs and login issues
- Laggy performance and slow loading times

**Requested features**

- Translate all messages to English
- Allow free access to photos and calendar
- Improve app stability and reduce crashes
- Offer more affordable subscription options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is bubble with STARS free?

bubble with STARS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Phoning free?

Phoning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, bubble with STARS or Phoning?

Phoning is rated higher. bubble with STARS averages 3.3 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while Phoning averages 4.0 from 736 ratings.

### Do bubble with STARS or Phoning have ads?

Phoning shows ads; bubble with STARS does not.

### Which is updated more often, bubble with STARS or Phoning?

bubble with STARS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Phoning every 5 weeks. Most recently, bubble with STARS was updated on October 27, 2026 and Phoning on October 27, 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.*