# Pay Tel vs Connect Network

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pay Tel at none against Connect Network's 1. Pay Tel also leads on chart position (#207 vs unranked). Connect Network's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Connect Network sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Pay Tel asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pay Tel ships an update every 2 months, Connect Network monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pay Tel | Connect Network |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.7 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **140** | — |
| Positive reviews | 6.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#207** | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Pay Tel Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593243822) | [Techverse LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689002597) |

## What reviewers say

### Pay Tel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Stay connected with loved ones. Receive instant alerts for messages and notifications. Easily view your balance and add funds, or send photos to inmates in eligible correctional facilities.

**Highlights:** Instant message alerts, Unread message count, Current balance visibility, Add funds link, Send photos to inmates

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Enables communication with incarcerated loved ones
- 📹 Video calling functionality available
- 💬 Messaging feature when working properly
- ✅ App works smoothly after recent updates (per some users)
- 🎯 Easy to add funds/make payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Messages fail to send or display
- 🔌 Constant login errors and authentication failures
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔄 App randomly logs users out mid-session

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- Login authentication errors persist across sessions
- Messages fail to send despite payment being deducted
- Messages don't appear in inbox despite being sent
- App logs out randomly while actively in use

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and performance optimization
- Better customer service responsiveness (live chat, phone support)
- Reduced pricing for calls and messages
- Same-day video visit scheduling
- Better message persistence (don't delete on app exit)


### Connect Network

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-network/id6449425992)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe to Connect App | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pay Tel free?

Pay Tel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Connect Network free?

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

### Do Pay Tel or Connect Network have ads?

Neither Pay Tel nor Connect Network shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pay Tel or Connect Network?

Pay Tel ships an update every 2 months, and Connect Network monthly. Most recently, Pay Tel was updated on October 13, 2026 and Connect Network on October 10, 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.*