Comparison

Higher 하이어 vs HYPETOWN

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

HYPETOWN

Discover and participate in all the hype events in Korea. Easily manage event registration, payments, and confirmations. This platform connects creators with their audience, streamlining event organization and participation.

Highlights
  • Discover Korean hype events
  • Easy payment options (KakaoPay, TossPay)
  • Instant participation confirmation
  • Event organizer registration
  • Automated event closing
  • Refund and cancellation processing
Features
Read full description

[If you're finding events, attending, or competing] Find this week's events right away on Home, Search, and Calendar. Follow your favorite event brands on their Series pages. Pay with PayPal or VISA from anywhere in the world. In Korea, KakaoPay and Toss are supported — and you can pick your exact seat with reserved seating. Can't make it? Transfer your ticket to someone else. Entering a battle or performing? Apply and pay in one flow, right in the app. Your entry is confirmed the moment payment goes through. Check battle brackets and see if you've advanced to the finals. Any extra forms the organizer needs are submitted during sign-up. Between events, catch up on the scene through Magazine and Feed. [If you're an organizer] Register and manage your events directly in the app. Payment confirmation is automatic — no more checking bank transfers. Registration closes automatically when you hit capacity. Full or partial refunds and cancellations, handled in one tap. Collect participant info with custom forms during sign-up.

Screenshots

Higher 하이어4 screens
HYPETOWN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HYPETOWN at 5.0 against Higher 하이어's 1.7. HYPETOWN also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 29%) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). Higher 하이어's advantage is ratings volume (123 vs 1). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. HYPETOWN asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HYPETOWN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Higher 하이어 has 123 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Higher 하이어's written reviews are positive against 69% of HYPETOWN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Higher 하이어 ships an update weekly, HYPETOWN every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Higher 하이어 versus HYPETOWN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHigher 하이어HYPETOWN
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (123 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.0% of reviews69.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings123 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size198 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVision Bridge Partners Corp.TaeHyun Kong

Customer experience

Higher 하이어

All ratings123 ratings
Positive17.1%
Neutral0.8%
Negative82.1%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive29.0%
Neutral3.9%
Negative67.1%

HYPETOWN

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral30.8%
Negative0.0%

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

HYPETOWN

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

HYPETOWN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Higher 하이어 free?
Higher 하이어 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HYPETOWN free?
HYPETOWN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Higher 하이어 or HYPETOWN?
HYPETOWN is rated higher. Higher 하이어 averages 1.7 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while HYPETOWN averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Higher 하이어 or HYPETOWN have ads?
Higher 하이어 shows ads; HYPETOWN does not.
Which is updated more often, Higher 하이어 or HYPETOWN?
Higher 하이어 ships an update weekly, and HYPETOWN every 4 days. Most recently, Higher 하이어 was updated on October 13, 2026 and HYPETOWN on October 9, 2026.

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