Circles vs Pinstop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Circles
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.
- Private group interaction
- Posts and threaded comments
- Custom avatar creator
- Member lists
- Email invitations
- Ad-free experience
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The mini, subscription-based, private social network for your group, family, team, squad and besties to interact in a personal, private, and secure manner without ads, targeting or data brokers bidding on your personal information. Our mini social network currently includes the following features; - Posts - Threaded comments - Custom avatar maker - Members List - Email invite system We're free while in Early Access and will introduce a lightweight subscription soon. In order to truly be a private, subscription based, social network, we promise to never ever sell ads, manipulate your feed or sell your personal data to a third party. To create a Circle all you need is for one member of your group to sponsor it, and that's it; no ads, no targeting, no silly business.
Pinstop
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Pinstop makes it easy to discover local events, hidden spots, and exciting things to do near you. Whether you're planning your weekend or just looking for a spontaneous adventure, Pinstop connects you to what's happening around you. What you can do: • Explore trending local events and activities • Find upcoming events near you and get tickets • Pin your favorite spots and experiences • Get inspired with personalized suggestions • Connect with people who enjoy the same things From food festivals and pop-up markets to hikes and art shows, Pinstop is your guide to finding what's fun and happening nearby. Pinstop Verified Get a verified badge, show your posts on Discovery, post upcoming events, and add links to your posts with Pinstop Verified, an optional auto-renewable subscription billed at $4.99 per month. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID's Subscriptions settings. Join the movement. Start pinning your adventures today. Terms of Use: https://pinstop.app/terms Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pinstop.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Circles at none against Pinstop's 1. Circles also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17). Pinstop's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks). 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
Both are free to download. Pinstop sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Circles asks for nothing beyond the download.
Circles ships an update every 6 weeks, Pinstop every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Circles | Pinstop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 76 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Magnus Sveinbjornsson | Ana Ibrahim |
In-app purchases
Circles
No in-app purchases
Pinstop
- Pinstop Verified$4.991 Month
