# CaringBridge vs Refer & Share

CaringBridge and Refer & Share both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 63% of CaringBridge's written reviews are positive against 0% of Refer & Share's. CaringBridge also leads on ratings volume (19K vs 1). Refer & Share's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence 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 — 4.9 for CaringBridge against 5.0 for Refer & Share. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CaringBridge has 19K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of CaringBridge's written reviews are positive against 0% of Refer & Share's.

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, Refer & Share every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CaringBridge | Refer & Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caringbridge/id365726944/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refer-and-share/id1572846330/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **63.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 65 MB | 166 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CaringBridge.org](https://appshunter.io/developer/365726947) | [Lerna Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/965527421) |

## What reviewers say

### CaringBridge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caringbridge/id365726944)

This platform offers a private, ad-free space for family caregivers to share updates and coordinate care for loved ones on a health journey. It fosters a supportive community, helping to alleviate feelings of isolation and overwhelm by connecting people through shared experiences.

**Highlights:** Private, ad-free health journey platform, Share updates with everyone at once, Document health journey progress, Coordinate care with family and friends, Connect with a supportive community

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Helpful for keeping loved ones updated
- 📢 Effective communication tool
- 🕰️ Saves time from repeated updates
- 🤝 Brings community support
- 🗓️ Useful journal/record of journey

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, glitchy app
- 🤔 Confusing/misleading donation wording
- 👨‍💻 Not user-friendly, needs UI improvements
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate/find information

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing/crashing issues
- Inability to view recent updates
- Sharing/linking functionality problems
- Inconsistent behavior across platforms

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and performance
- Clarify donation process and usage
- Enhance user experience and navigation
- Provide better notification system


### Refer & Share

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refer-and-share/id1572846330)

Easily share contact information of friends and family interested in Marriott Vacation Club. Earn rewards like Marriott Bonvoy™ Points or maintenance fee credits when your referrals join. The process is simple: select contacts, send invitations, and receive rewards upon successful referrals.

**Highlights:** Share friend and family contact information, Learn about FriendShare rewards, Send exclusive invitations, Earn Marriott Bonvoy™ Points, Receive Maintenance Fee credits, Simple Select, Give, Receive process

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CaringBridge free?

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

### Is Refer & Share free?

Refer & Share is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CaringBridge or Refer & Share?

Refer & Share is rated higher. CaringBridge averages 4.9 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Refer & Share averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CaringBridge or Refer & Share have ads?

Neither CaringBridge nor Refer & Share shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CaringBridge or Refer & Share?

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, and Refer & Share every 3 weeks. Most recently, CaringBridge was updated on October 30, 2026 and Refer & Share on October 21, 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.*