# CaringBridge vs circles*

CaringBridge and circles* both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of circles*'s written reviews are positive against 63% of CaringBridge's. circles* also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). CaringBridge's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 1). 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 circles*. 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 100% of circles*'s.

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, circles* every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CaringBridge | circles* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/circles/id6762500004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 63.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 65 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CaringBridge.org](https://appshunter.io/developer/365726947) | [CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887701443) |

## 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


### circles*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004)

A private messaging application designed for intimate communication with close contacts. Share direct and group messages, voice notes, and ephemeral photos or videos. Your identity and profile are synced from an existing account, ensuring a seamless and secure experience.

**Highlights:** Direct and group messaging, Voice messages, Ephemeral photo/video sharing (Moments), Viewership tracking for Moments, Profile sync from existing account

**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 circles* free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CaringBridge or circles*?

circles* is rated higher. CaringBridge averages 4.9 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while circles* averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CaringBridge or circles* have ads?

Neither CaringBridge nor circles* shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CaringBridge or circles*?

CaringBridge ships an update monthly, and circles* every 3 weeks. Most recently, CaringBridge was updated on October 11, 2026 and circles* on October 1, 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.*