# GroupMe vs Circool

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | GroupMe | Circool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circool/id6782998647/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.6M** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 29.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#12** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) | [Cinthya vitery](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782998649) |

## What reviewers say

### GroupMe

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

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Free · Social Networking, #150 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


### Circool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circool/id6782998647)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


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