# GroupMe vs Yik Yak

The clearest difference is rating: GroupMe at 4.7 against Yik Yak's 3.9. GroupMe also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.6M vs 52K). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GroupMe sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Yik Yak sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

GroupMe holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GroupMe has 1.6M ratings behind it against 52K, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GroupMe | Yik Yak |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews)** | [3.9 (52K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yik-yak/id1573043816/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.6M** | 52K |
| Positive reviews | — | 25.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#12** | #37 |
| Size | 385 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) | [Yik Yak, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573043818) |

## What reviewers say

### GroupMe

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

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Free · Social Networking (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


### Yik Yak

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yik-yak/id1573043816)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with local communities anonymously. Share thoughts, jokes, and memes, and engage in direct messages. Express yourself authentically without revealing your identity.

**Highlights:** Anonymous posting, Local community connection, Meme creation, Joke sharing, Direct messaging, Authentic self-expression

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly (Early Bird) | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Entertaining and engaging app
- 🤝 Sense of community and connection
- 💡 Unique concept of anonymous local discussions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
- 🤖 Inconsistent and overly strict moderation
- 💬 Rampant bullying, harassment, and toxic behavior
- 🔒 Lack of user safety and accountability

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to delete own posts
- Inconsistent application of content filters
- Notifications not linking to correct posts

**Requested features**

- Ability to mute or filter specific keywords or users
- Improved notification system and post history tracking
- Expansion of location radius beyond college campuses
- Addition of user profiles and photo/link sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GroupMe free?

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

### Is Yik Yak free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GroupMe or Yik Yak?

GroupMe is rated higher. GroupMe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Yik Yak averages 3.9 from 52K ratings.

### Do GroupMe or Yik Yak have ads?

Yik Yak shows ads; GroupMe does not.

### Which is updated more often, GroupMe or Yik Yak?

GroupMe ships an update weekly, and Yik Yak weekly. Most recently, GroupMe was updated on October 25, 2026 and Yik Yak on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, GroupMe or Yik Yak?

GroupMe currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and Yik Yak at #37. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*