# Circles vs The Midst

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Circles at none against The Midst's 2. Circles also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 27.0). The Midst's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Midst sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Circles asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Circles against 5.0 for The Midst. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

Circles ships an update every 6 weeks, The Midst every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circles | The Midst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-mini-social-network/id1619588170/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-midst/id6593661633/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 56 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 27.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Magnus Sveinbjornsson](https://appshunter.io/developer/939154025) | [Dan O'Leary](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177083778) |

## What reviewers say

### Circles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-mini-social-network/id1619588170)

A private social network designed for close-knit groups like families or teams. It offers a secure space for interaction with features like posts, comments, and custom avatars, free from ads and data selling.

**Highlights:** Private group interaction, Posts and threaded comments, Custom avatar creator, Member lists, Email invitations, Ad-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Midst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-midst/id6593661633)

A location-based social network where posts are tied to your current location and visible globally. Share experiences, discover new places through check-ins, and build wish lists of interesting spots. Posts are temporary, ensuring fresh content.

**Highlights:** Location-based posting, Global map view, 24-hour post expiration, Check-in functionality, Wish list creation, Anonymous posting option, Age verification

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circles free?

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

### Is The Midst free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Circles or The Midst?

Circles and The Midst are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do Circles or The Midst have ads?

Neither Circles nor The Midst shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circles or The Midst?

Circles ships an update every 6 weeks, and The Midst every 4 weeks. Most recently, Circles was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Midst on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*