Comparison

GroupMe vs Circool

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GroupMe

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
Read full description

GroupMe - the free, simple way to stay in touch with the people who matter most. Family. Roommates. Friends. Coworkers. Teams. Vacations. Greek Life. Bands. Faith Groups. Events. “Lifechanger.... utterly indispensable” -Gizmodo START CHATTING Add anyone to a group via their phone number or email address. If they don’t have the app, they can start chatting over SMS immediately. CONTROL NOTIFICATIONS You’re in charge! Mute specific chats, or the entire app – you can even leave or end group chats. SAY MORE THAN WORDS With an extensive set of exclusive emoji, you can express yourself in a whole new way. THE WHOLE INTERNET IN YOUR GROUP Meme images, search for and send GIFs and videos, and see content shared from URLs displayed in the chat. SHARE NOW, RELIVE LATER The gallery saves your memories. Easily explore the photos and videos shared in your group now, or later. LEAVE TEXTING BEHIND With direct messages, you can use all the features you love for group chat, but one-on-one. CHAT WHEREVER YOU ARE Including from your computer at groupme.com Stay in touch whether you’re separated by a hallway or a hemisphere. Get your group together. We want to hear your feedback! Support: https://aka.ms/groupmesupport Twitter: @GroupMeSupport Facebook: facebook.com/groupme Instagram: @GroupMe Love, Team GroupMe NOTE: SMS chat currently available in US only. Standard text messaging rates may apply. Privacy Policy: https://groupme.com/privacy Made with love in Seattle

About

Circool

Connects content creators with brands for real-world experiences. Discover events, sign up easily, and share your experiences directly through the app. Brands can also use the platform to find verified creators.

Highlights
  • Create creator profile with content and social links
  • Discover and sign up for brand experiences
  • Track inscription status and receive notifications
  • Upload content directly from the app
  • Verified creator community for safety
  • Brand portal for creating experiences and finding creators
Features
Read full description

Circool conecta a creadores de contenido con marcas a través de experiencias reales. ¿Te imaginas que tus marcas favoritas te inviten a vivir sus experiencias? Con Circool, tu contenido y tu comunidad abren la puerta a eventos, lanzamientos y activaciones pensadas para ti. Descubre experiencias, inscríbete en segundos y comparte lo que vives con tu audiencia. CÓMO FUNCIONA 1. Crea tu perfil de creador: cuéntanos sobre tu contenido, sube tus fotos y vincula tus redes sociales. 2. Elige hasta 3 categorías que van contigo para recibir experiencias hechas a tu medida. 3. Explora las experiencias disponibles e inscríbete en las que más te interesen. 4. Sigue el estado de tus inscripciones y recibe notificaciones cuando una marca te confirme. 5. Vive la experiencia y sube tu contenido directamente desde la app. DESCUBRE EXPERIENCIAS • Explora experiencias de marcas organizadas por categorías. • Guarda tus favoritas para no perderlas de vista. • Revisa fecha, lugar y todos los detalles antes de inscribirte. TU PERFIL DE CREADOR • Muestra quién eres: tus fotos, tus categorías y tus redes sociales en un solo lugar. • Las marcas revisan tu perfil para invitarte a las experiencias correctas. • Actualiza tu información cuando quieras. TUS EXPERIENCIAS, ORGANIZADAS • Consulta el estado de cada inscripción: pendiente o confirmada. • Recibe notificaciones para no perderte ninguna novedad. • Sube el contenido que creaste en cada experiencia y compártelo con la marca. UNA COMUNIDAD SEGURA Cada perfil pasa por un proceso de verificación antes de ser visible. Así mantenemos una comunidad confiable tanto para creadores como para marcas. ¿ERES UNA MARCA? Circool también es para ti: crea experiencias, descubre creadores verificados y conecta con las personas que mejor representan tu marca desde nuestro panel web. Descarga Circool gratis y empieza a vivir experiencias que valen la pena compartir.

Screenshots

GroupMe4 screens
Circool3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GroupMe at 4.7 against Circool's 1.0. GroupMe also leads on ratings volume (1.6M vs 1) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). Circool's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GroupMe holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GroupMe has 1.6M ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GroupMe ships an update weekly, Circool every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
GroupMe versus Circool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGroupMeCircool
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.6M ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews29.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6M — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size383 MB35 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSkype Communications S.a.r.lCinthya vitery

Customer experience

GroupMe

All ratings1,559,099 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews1,605 reviews
Positive29.9%
Neutral12.0%
Negative58.1%

Circool

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

GroupMe

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

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

Circool

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

GroupMe

One-time10
  • Most Wanted Emoji Pack$0.99
  • Michigan Wolverines Emoji Pack$0.99
  • Wisconsin Badgers Emoji Pack$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Florida Gators Emoji Pack$0.99
  • March Madness Emoji Pack$0.99
  • Most Wanted 2 Emoji Pack$0.99
  • University of Alabama Emoji Pack$1.99
  • University of Texas Emoji Pack$1.99
  • Adventure Time$1.99
  • University of Notre Dame Emoji$1.99
None

Circool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GroupMe free?
GroupMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Circool free?
Circool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GroupMe or Circool?
GroupMe is rated higher. GroupMe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Circool averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do GroupMe or Circool have ads?
Neither GroupMe nor Circool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GroupMe or Circool?
GroupMe ships an update weekly, and Circool every 5 days. Most recently, GroupMe was updated on October 13, 2026 and Circool on September 28, 2026.

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