Comparison

BuyNothing vs HelpHereHub

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

Head to head
About

BuyNothing

Connect with your local community to give, receive, share, lend, and borrow items. This app fosters a gift economy, building connections through sharing, inspired by the BuyNothing® Project.

Highlights
  • Give and receive items locally
  • Lend and borrow goods
  • Hyper-local community sharing
  • Gift economy model
  • Build community connections
  • Express gratitude
Features
Read full description

We offer people a way to give, receive, share, lend, borrow and express gratitude through a hyper-local gift economy model in which people can share wherever they are and true wealth is measured by the web of connections formed between people through sharing. From the founders of the BuyNothing® Project. Terms of Use: https://buynothingproject.org/terms

About

HelpHereHub

Connects organizations needing support with community volunteers and donors. Facilitates posting volunteer opportunities, donation needs, and coordinating efforts to strengthen communities.

Highlights
  • Create volunteer and donation requests
  • Track volunteer signups and pledges
  • Join giving circles and action teams
  • Set personal goals and track progress
  • Direct messaging between users
  • Community event calendar
  • Impact tracking and statistics
Features
Read full description

HelpHereHub is the central platform for connecting organizations with community volunteers and donors. Our mission is to strengthen communities by coordinating resources, people, and strategy in one central place. Whether you are an organization seeking support or a community member ready to help, join thousands of neighbors building stronger communities today. There are two ways to participate: Organizations can request help for their community programs, and community members can respond with their time and resources. For Organizations: - Request Representation: Apply to become an organization representative to manage community requests. - Create Requests: Post volunteer opportunities, donation needs, and supply requests for your programs. - Coordinate and Track: Manage volunteer signups, track pledges, and coordinate with action teams on initiatives. - Receive Referrals: Get quality referrals from Community Navigators connecting residents with your services. For Community Members: - Browse Opportunities: Explore volunteer opportunities, donation requests, action teams, and giving circles. - Engage and Support: Volunteer your time, pledge donations, join giving circles, or participate in action teams. - Track Your Journey: Set personal goals, work with Journey Allies, and track your path to thriving. - Make an Impact: See your contributions, build connections, and measure the difference you are making. Platform Features HelpHereHub offers everything you need to coordinate community support and track your impact effectively: - Organization Requests: Detailed requests with volunteer time slots, item needs, and donation goals. - Volunteer Time Slots: Sign up for specific opportunities and receive automatic reminders. - Pledge Tracking: Pledge items or donations and track fulfillment progress in real-time. - Giving Circles: Join collaborative groups to pool resources and decide together how to support community needs. - Action Teams: Collaborate with cross-sector teams on community initiatives, projects, and strategic planning. - My Journey: Set personal goals, track progress, and work with Journey Allies on your path from at-risk to thriving. - Navigator System: Community Navigators connect residents with organizations and track referral outcomes. - Direct Messaging: Communicate directly with organization representatives and other community members. - Event Calendar: View upcoming community events, meetings, and important deadlines in one place. - Resource Library: Access shared documents, guides, and resources curated by your community. - Impact Tracking: Monitor statistics on your volunteer hours, pledges fulfilled, and community contributions. Why Choose HelpHereHub? - Organization-Focused: Designed for nonprofits and community groups to efficiently coordinate volunteer efforts and donations. - Easy Coordination: Streamline volunteer scheduling, pledge tracking, and communication in one central platform. - Community-Driven: Built by people who care about neighborhoods, for communities that want to thrive together. - Real-Time Updates: Instant notifications, automatic reminders, and live progress tracking keep everyone informed. Join HelpHereHub today and be part of a community that makes a real difference. Let's thrive together!

Screenshots

BuyNothing4 screens
HelpHereHub4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HelpHereHub at 5.0 against BuyNothing's 4.3. HelpHereHub also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). BuyNothing's advantage is ratings volume (2.1K vs 1) and chart position (#185 vs unranked). On price, ads and device support 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. BuyNothing sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HelpHereHub asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HelpHereHub holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BuyNothing has 2.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BuyNothing ships an update every 2 weeks, HelpHereHub every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
BuyNothing versus HelpHereHub: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuyNothingHelpHereHub
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (2.1K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.1K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#185 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size76 MB28 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBuy Nothing Project, Inc.HagermanForward Inc

Bugs and requests

BuyNothing

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Login issues and inability to reset passwords
  • Inconsistent location settings and radius
  • Unreliable notifications and messaging
  • Inability to edit or update posts

Requested features

5 requests
  • Search function to find specific posts
  • Ability to edit and update posts
  • Improved organization and sorting of posts
  • Syncing across multiple devices
  • More robust moderation and community tools

HelpHereHub

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

BuyNothing

Subscriptions8
  • Buy Nothing Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Buy Nothing Pro$3.991 Month
  • Sustaining Member$5.491 Month
Show 5 more
  • Sustaining Member$6.991 Month
  • Buy Nothing Pro$38.491 Year
  • Buy Nothing Subscription$38.491 Year
  • Sustaining Member$54.991 Year
  • Sustaining Member$69.991 Year
None

HelpHereHub

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BuyNothing free?
BuyNothing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HelpHereHub free?
HelpHereHub is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BuyNothing or HelpHereHub?
HelpHereHub is rated higher. BuyNothing averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while HelpHereHub averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do BuyNothing or HelpHereHub have ads?
Neither BuyNothing nor HelpHereHub shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BuyNothing or HelpHereHub?
BuyNothing ships an update every 2 weeks, and HelpHereHub every 3 days. Most recently, BuyNothing was updated on October 27, 2026 and HelpHereHub on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons