# Circles vs LinkUp IRL

The clearest difference is update cadence: LinkUp IRL at every 3 weeks against Circles's every 6 weeks. Circles's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

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

Circles ships an update every 6 weeks, LinkUp IRL every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circles | LinkUp IRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-mini-social-network/id1619588170/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkup-irl/id6781289021/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Magnus Sveinbjornsson](https://appshunter.io/developer/939154025) | [AppHus, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891882417) |

## 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


### LinkUp IRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkup-irl/id6781289021)

This app helps you turn spontaneous ideas into concrete plans with friends. Float a low-pressure 'who's down?' to gauge interest, then lock in details like time and place. It focuses on real friendships, not meeting strangers, with clear RSVPs and organized circles.

**Highlights:** Float 'Feelers' to gauge interest, Lock in plans with time and place, Organize friends into 'Circles', See honest headcounts in real-time, Control plan visibility and reach, Live Activities and widgets for plans, Smart notifications for plan updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circles free?

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

### Is LinkUp IRL free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Circles or LinkUp IRL?

Circles and LinkUp IRL are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Circles or LinkUp IRL have ads?

Neither Circles nor LinkUp IRL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circles or LinkUp IRL?

Circles ships an update every 6 weeks, and LinkUp IRL every 3 weeks. Most recently, Circles was updated on October 11, 2026 and LinkUp IRL on October 2, 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.*