# GroupMe vs Valid

GroupMe and Valid both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Valid's written reviews are positive against 30% of GroupMe's. Valid also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). GroupMe's advantage is ratings volume (1.6M vs 12K) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GroupMe sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Valid sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for GroupMe against 4.8 for Valid. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GroupMe has 1.6M ratings behind it against 12K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of GroupMe's written reviews are positive against 79% of Valid's.

GroupMe ships an update weekly, Valid every 2 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GroupMe | Valid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valid-compliment-classmates/id6755367062/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6M** | 12K |
| Positive reviews | 29.7% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#14** | #24 |
| Size | 385 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) | [RevueAI, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853438184) |

## What reviewers say

### GroupMe

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

**Currently charting:** #14 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


### Valid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/valid-compliment-classmates/id6755367062)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Free · Social Networking, #133 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app allows you to send anonymous compliments and answer positive polls about your classmates. Earn points, climb leaderboards, and connect with your school community in a safe, moderated environment.

**Highlights:** Anonymous polling, Positive questions about friends, Earn aura points, School leaderboards, Receive compliments, Chat with classmates

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| God Mode | $12.49 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GroupMe free?

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

### Is Valid free?

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

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

Valid is rated higher. GroupMe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Valid averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do GroupMe or Valid have ads?

Neither GroupMe nor Valid shows ads.

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

GroupMe ships an update weekly, and Valid every 2 days. Most recently, GroupMe was updated on November 1, 2026 and Valid on November 1, 2026.

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

GroupMe currently peaks at #14 in the App Store charts, and Valid at #24. 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.*