Comparison

Higher 하이어 vs LiNC(링크)

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

Head to head
About

Higher 하이어

This platform allows global K-POP fans to vote for their favorite artists, collect digital photocards, share videos, and directly participate in artist growth and content creation. It aims to foster a new fan culture with diverse features for a comprehensive K-POP experience.

Highlights
  • Fandom popularity voting
  • Participate in SBS INKIGAYO voting
  • Collect artist TIMEPIECEs (photocards)
  • Share and watch artist videos
  • Birthday voting and events
  • Apply for artist-related events and rewards
Features
Read full description

HIGHER is a global fandom social platform where any global K-POP fan can participate in voting for their ultimate bias, enjoy 'Timepieces' that capture an artist's special moments, and share videos with friends. We provide a variety of services and content so you can directly participate in your artist's journey of growth. Experience everything about K-POP and create a new fandom culture together with HIGHER! [Key Features] 1. Participate in SBS Inkigayo Voting • Real-time Voting: Conducted every week during the live broadcast, your voting results are directly reflected in determining the 1st place winner on SBS Inkigayo. • Hot Stage Voting (Weekly/Monthly/Yearly): Vote for the 'Weekly' best stage right after the live broadcast, choose your absolute favorite among the weekly 1st and 2nd place winners for the 'Monthly Hot Stage,' and participate in the 'Yearly' vote to promote stage videos globally. (Certification photos are revealed on the app and SNS). • Ending Fairy Voting (Weekly/Monthly): The finale of the stage is now completed at the fingertips of fans! Gift your artist an exclusive ending stage. 2. Birthday Voting and Various Theme Votes • Celebrate your artist's once-a-year birthday by creating and gifting a custom birthday ad together with other fans. • In addition to birthday votes, participate in weekly polls with various themes such as 'Artist of the Week' and 'High Pick.' 3. HIGHER Exclusive! Special Moments as a 'Timepiece' • Keep your artist's special moments—such as their debut, comeback, 1st place on music shows, ending fairy, and pre-recording moments—as a digital collectible 'Timepiece.' • Updated weekly with new content, you can acquire Timepieces through various events and promotions. 4. Enter Exciting Events • Challenge yourself in abundant events to win exciting prizes such as audience tickets to MBC Show! Music Core and SBS Inkigayo, signed Polaroids, and signed CDs. 5. Enjoy and Share High-Quality Videos • Be the first to watch high-definition SBS Inkigayo stages of numerous artists including &TEAM, aespa, AHOF, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, AND2BLE, ATEEZ, BABYMONSTER, BLACKPINK, BOYNEXTDOOR, BTS, CORTIS, DAY6, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, IVE, ITZY, KISS OF LIFE, MONSTA X, NCT, n.SSign, NMIXX, PLAVE, RESCENE, RIIZE, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, TREASURE, TWS, TWICE, TXT, VIVIZ, ZEROBASEONE, and leave a heart on your favorite videos. • Enjoy content with your friends using the 'Share' feature. The videos you watch are automatically reflected on the 'Circle Chart,' directly contributing to your artist's ranking! [App Access Permissions Information] HIGHER selectively requests the following access permissions. You can use the service without restriction even if you do not agree to the optional permissions. • Photos and Media (Optional): Used to set a profile picture and download voting certificates. • Camera (Optional): Used to take a profile picture. • Notifications (Optional): Used to receive in-app content announcements such as votes, Timepieces, and events. • Location (Optional): Used to participate in Higher Pop (location-based Timepiece events). • Ad Tracking (Optional): Used to verify viewing completion and ensure accurate reward delivery when participating in reward ad (offerwall) missions. * You can change your access permission settings at any time in your device's settings menu. Terms of Use (EULA): https://higher.fan/en/terms-of-service

About

LiNC(링크)

Connect directly with your favorite artists through video calls, private chats, and fan voting. Participate in events, share your support, and earn rewards. This platform offers a unique way for fans to engage with their idols and create memorable experiences.

Highlights
  • 1:1 Video Calls with Artists
  • Private Artist Chat Subscription
  • Broadcast Voting & Pre-Voting
  • Fan Theme Polls
  • Fan Community Open Chat
  • ePrint Artist Photos
  • Earn Fan Points & Rewards
Features
Read full description

Get closer to your favorite stars with LiNC. LiNC is a fan participation platform where moments of direct connection with artists begin. From video calls and private 1:1 chats to broadcast voting, every fan action leads to real experiences. [About LiNC] SBS Inkigayo Pre-Voting - Easily participate every week on LiNC and help your favorite artist reach No.1 with your vote. 1:1 Video Call Events - Meet & Call / Relay Call: Talk directly with artists via 1:1 video calls. - Two-Shot Event: Capture memorable moments through photo sessions. Artist Private Chat Subscription - A dedicated space to communicate 1:1 with your favorite artist. Subscribe to enjoy exclusive content and never miss special moments. - Share your support and participation with artists through Fan Stories. - Built-in translation allows you to chat freely across languages. Express yourself more vividly with Linkticons. Fan Theme Polls & Support Votes - Share opinions with other fans through theme polls. - Celebrate album releases and support artists through support votes. - Use Support Pass to gain vote boosters and Fan Points. Fan Community Open Chat - Connect with fans who support the same artist. - Share comeback moments, music shows, and award ceremonies in real time. ePrint Events - Keep special moments of artists as physical prints through ePrint services. - Participate in events to receive limited benefits. Fan Points & Rewards - Earn Fan Points through various activities. - Collect rewards while supporting your favorite artists. [Service Terms and Conditions] https://help.stayge.io/en/articles/Integrated-Terms-and-Conditions-of-the-LiNC-Service-b2137eb7 [Privacy Policy] https://help.stayge.io/en/articles/STAYGE-Labs-Privacy-Policy-ba0fcbe0 [App Permissions] - Required permissions: Device & app history (to improve app usability and diagnose errors), Device ID (for device identification and ad tracking) - Optional permissions: Camera (to capture video and take two-shot photos during artist video call events), Microphone (for audio during artist video call events), Photos/Media/Files (to attach media files when creating posts), Notifications (to register and receive push notifications), Nearby devices (to connect Bluetooth earphones and other devices during video calls) *You can use the service without granting optional permissions; however, some features may be limited.

Screenshots

Higher 하이어4 screens
LiNC(링크)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: LiNC(링크) at 3.1 against Higher 하이어's 1.7. LiNC(링크) also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (54% vs 26%). Higher 하이어's advantage is ratings volume (124 vs 15). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Higher 하이어 sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year and LiNC(링크) sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LiNC(링크) holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Higher 하이어 has 124 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Higher 하이어's written reviews are positive against 54% of LiNC(링크)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Higher 하이어 ships an update every 6 days, LiNC(링크) every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Higher 하이어 versus LiNC(링크): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHigher 하이어LiNC(링크)
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (124 ratings)3.1 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.2% of reviews53.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings124 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size170 MB190 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVision Bridge Partners Corp.STAYGE Labs

Customer experience

Higher 하이어

All ratings124 ratings
Positive16.9%
Neutral0.8%
Negative82.3%
Written reviews149 reviews
Positive26.2%
Neutral4.0%
Negative69.8%

LiNC(링크)

All ratings15 ratings
Positive53.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews106 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral7.5%
Negative38.7%

User reviews

Higher 하이어

From 124 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy-to-use interface for voting
  • 🎯 Convenient centralized voting platform
  • 💰 Free ruby collection through ads
  • ⚡ Improved ad-watching speed after recent updates
  • 🎨 Clear voting information and instructions

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes during live voting
  • 📱 Server instability during peak traffic
  • ⏱️ Excessive ads required (50+ daily)
  • 💸 Poor ruby-to-effort ratio (1 ruby per ad)
  • 🔐 Login issues and forced logouts

LiNC(링크)

From 15 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface design
  • 💰 Free voting through ad watching instead of paid currency
  • 💬 Direct communication with artists via chat and video calls
  • 🎯 Easy access to pre-voting for music shows from home screen
  • 🎁 Multiple engagement features (voting, chatting, events, fan points)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Ad videos fail to load frequently
  • 💸 Excessive number of ads (20-30+) required for minimal points
  • ⏱️ Ads take excessive time to load and play (60+ seconds each)
  • 🚫 Messaging feature not working properly
  • 🔔 Chat notifications not arriving despite permissions enabled

Bugs and requests

Higher 하이어

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • App crashes during live voting events
  • Cannot create account - SMS verification fails
  • Login fails or users get logged out unexpectedly
  • Ads don't load or fail to play completely
  • Rubies don't accumulate after watching ads
Show 11 more
  • Purchased diamonds/rubies disappear from account
  • Duplicate charges for purchases
  • App becomes unresponsive after updates
  • Pages fail to load
  • Gem charging system broken
  • Photo cards not issued after voting
  • Language switching issues
  • Black screen after reinstalling
  • Password entry not working during signup
  • Phone number validation errors during registration
  • Verification codes not sent for account creation

Requested features

12 requests
  • Increase ruby rewards per ad (3-5 instead of 1)
  • Add daily check-in bonuses
  • Reduce diamond prices
  • Implement SMS text voting alternative
  • Add timer for ad availability
Show 7 more
  • Improve server capacity for live voting
  • Support for more than 5 favorite artists
  • Better customer support response
  • Japanese language support
  • Reduce frequency of updates
  • Add VPN/proxy support for international access
  • Implement parental controls for ad filtering

LiNC(링크)

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Ad videos fail to load or play
  • Commercial video loading failure error messages
  • Chat notifications not delivering despite enabled permissions
  • Messages showing as unread when they are read
  • App crashes and unexpected logouts
Show 5 more
  • Login credentials not persisting after updates
  • Unread message badges not clearing after viewing
  • Points not awarded after watching ads
  • Video playback disabled after app updates
  • Google login account switching not possible

Requested features

8 requests
  • Search functionality within chat conversations
  • Favorite artists pinned to top of voting list
  • Push notifications for voting start times
  • Bulk voting button (select 10 votes at once)
  • Fan-to-fan communication/community chat
Show 3 more
  • More diverse artists and actors on platform
  • Persistent liked messages that don't disappear
  • Better ad loading and reliability system

In-app purchases

18 purchases

Higher 하이어

Subscriptions1
  • Unlimited Slot Pass$7.991 Year
One-time17
  • 1 UL Vote Ticket$0.49
  • 20 Diamonds$0.99
  • 30 Diamonds$2.59
Show 14 more
  • 39 Diamond$2.99
  • 8 Real-Time Voting Tickets$2.99
  • 40 Diamonds$2.99
  • 62 Diamond$4.99
  • 10 UL Vote Tickets$4.99
  • 65 Diamonds$5.39
  • 120 Diamond$8.99
  • 120 Diamonds$9.79
  • 375 Diamond$26.99
  • 450 Diamonds$30.49
  • 650 Diamond$44.99
  • 800 Diamonds$50.99
  • 1200 Diamond$79.99
  • 1500 Diamonds$79.99
23 purchases

LiNC(링크)

Subscriptions17
  • [IN A MINUTE] KIM JUN TAE$3.991 Month
  • Kim Gi Joong$3.991 Month
  • [IN A MINUTE] LEE JAE JUN$3.991 Month
Show 14 more
  • Lee Jiham$3.991 Month
  • Park Junhee$3.991 Month
  • Holland$3.991 Month
  • Park woodam$3.991 Month
  • KIMDOAH$3.991 Month
  • [We;Na] DOA$3.991 Month
  • [I:MOND] ahyeon$3.991 Month
  • Kang Hayoon$3.991 Month
  • [I:MOND] E-seol$3.991 Month
  • [I:MOND] MIKU$3.991 Month
  • ADORA$3.991 Month
  • [I:MOND] Youngwon$3.991 Month
  • Dong Hwan$3.991 Month
  • Sihun Kim$3.991 Month
One-time6
  • Cheer Package$1.99
  • Fan Package$4.99
  • Fandom Support Pass$6.99
Show 3 more
  • Heart Fan Package$13.99
  • Super Fan Package$26.99
  • Royal Fan Package$44.99

Questions

Is Higher 하이어 free?
Higher 하이어 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LiNC(링크) free?
LiNC(링크) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Higher 하이어 or LiNC(링크)?
LiNC(링크) is rated higher. Higher 하이어 averages 1.7 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while LiNC(링크) averages 3.1 from 15 ratings.
Do Higher 하이어 or LiNC(링크) have ads?
Higher 하이어 shows ads; LiNC(링크) does not.
Which is updated more often, Higher 하이어 or LiNC(링크)?
Higher 하이어 ships an update every 6 days, and LiNC(링크) every 9 days. Most recently, Higher 하이어 was updated on September 21, 2026 and LiNC(링크) on September 21, 2026.

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