# GroupMe vs Flare

GroupMe and Flare both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 97% of Flare's written reviews are positive against 30% of GroupMe's. Flare also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). GroupMe's advantage is ratings volume (1.6M vs 6.7K) and chart position (#7 vs #82). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GroupMe sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Flare asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flare holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GroupMe has 1.6M ratings behind it against 6.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of GroupMe's written reviews are positive against 97% of Flare's.

GroupMe ships an update weekly, Flare every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GroupMe | Flare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews) | **[4.9 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6M** | 6.7K |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | **96.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | #82 |
| Size | 383 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) | [Flare App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1641431506) |

## What reviewers say

### GroupMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Free · Social Networking, #133 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with family, friends, and colleagues through group chats, direct messages, and shared media. Easily add members via phone number or email, control notifications, and express yourself with custom emojis and GIFs. Share photos and videos to relive memories later.

**Highlights:** Group chat creation, Direct messaging, Custom emoji and GIFs, Photo and video sharing, Notification control, Web access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Most Wanted Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Michigan Wolverines Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wisconsin Badgers Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Florida Gators Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| March Madness Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Most Wanted 2 Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| University of Alabama Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Texas Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Adventure Time | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Notre Dame Emoji | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent group communication
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🚀 Reliable
- 👍 Versatile for various use cases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Syncing and loading issues
- 🐛 Notification problems
- 🐛 Bugs with media uploads
- 🐛 Laggy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or account issues
- Problems with adding/removing group members
- Disappearing messages and chat history
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete/edit messages
- Announcement mode for admins
- Pinned messages
- Improved group management features
- Better cross-device/platform sync


### Flare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687)

**Currently charting:** #82 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app streamlines group management by consolidating communication, event planning, and engagement tools. It offers features like group chats, event RSVPs, attendance tracking, photo albums, and payment collection, making it ideal for various organizations.

**Highlights:** Group chats and announcements, Event creation and attendance tracking, Photo albums and highlights, Polls and points system, Ticket sales and payment collection, File sharing and roster management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient communication
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Organized and user-friendly
- 🎨 Great features like photo albums and calendars
- 💪 Comprehensive for large groups

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with notifications and loading
- 🔒 Strict privacy settings can be limiting
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not always working properly
- Difficulty removing screenshots and photos

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove albums and events
- More customization options for admins
- Integration with personal calendars


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GroupMe free?

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

### Is Flare free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GroupMe or Flare?

Flare is rated higher. GroupMe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Flare averages 4.9 from 6.7K ratings.

### Do GroupMe or Flare have ads?

Neither GroupMe nor Flare shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GroupMe or Flare?

GroupMe ships an update weekly, and Flare every 3 days. Most recently, GroupMe was updated on October 16, 2026 and Flare on October 15, 2026.

### Which is more popular, GroupMe or Flare?

GroupMe currently peaks at #7 in the App Store charts, and Flare at #82. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*