# CaringBridge vs Cluster

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CaringBridge at none against Cluster's 6. Cluster's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cluster sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. CaringBridge asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for CaringBridge against 4.8 for Cluster. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19K and 22K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of CaringBridge's written reviews are positive against 57% of Cluster's.

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, Cluster every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CaringBridge | Cluster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caringbridge/id365726944/reviews)** | [4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 19K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **63.0% of reviews** | 56.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CaringBridge.org](https://appshunter.io/developer/365726947) | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) |

## 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


### Cluster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032)

Create private groups to share photos and videos with specific people. Ideal for families, friends, or colleagues to share moments securely without broadcasting to a wider audience. Access your shared memories across mobile devices and the web.

**Highlights:** Create private sharing groups, Share photos and videos, Invite specific members, Web and mobile access, Relevant notifications, Secure and private sharing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cluster Friend | $4.99 | per month |
| Cluster Family | $9.99 | per month |
| Cluster Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Cluster Friend | $49.99 | per year |
| Cluster Family | $99.99 | per year |
| Cluster Pro | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great for sharing photos and videos
- 🔒 Allows private sharing with selected groups
- 💡 Helpful for keeping family connected
- 👍 Simple and effective interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Issues with photo/video uploads
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Glitchy performance after updates
- 🔍 Lack of search and organization features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for some users
- Photos and videos fail to upload consistently
- Notification issues - not receiving updates
- Compatibility problems with newer Android devices
- Unexpected errors when trying to access accounts

**Requested features**

- Add ability to edit/delete posts
- Improve photo/video upload reliability
- Implement better notification system
- Add option to create galleries/albums within groups
- Enhance search and filtering capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CaringBridge free?

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

### Is Cluster free?

Cluster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CaringBridge or Cluster?

CaringBridge is rated higher. CaringBridge averages 4.9 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Cluster averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.

### Do CaringBridge or Cluster have ads?

Neither CaringBridge nor Cluster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CaringBridge or Cluster?

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, and Cluster every 2 months. Most recently, CaringBridge was updated on September 25, 2026 and Cluster on September 24, 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.*