# Patch vs Neighbors by Ring

The clearest difference is ads: Neighbors by Ring at none against Patch's shown. Neighbors by Ring also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (305K vs 27K). Patch's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 28%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Patch against 4.8 for Neighbors by Ring. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Neighbors by Ring has 305K ratings behind it against 27K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Patch's written reviews are positive against 28% of Neighbors by Ring's.

Patch ships an update every 2 months, Neighbors by Ring every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patch | Neighbors by Ring |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632/reviews) | **[4.8 (305K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neighbors-by-ring/id1218902777/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 27K | **305K** |
| Positive reviews | **59.2% of reviews** | 27.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | #179 | **#21** |
| Size | 66 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Patch Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088403234) | [Ring.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/926252660) |

## What reviewers say

### Patch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Stay informed about your local community with real-time news, events, and weather updates. Discover schools, homes for sale, jobs, and announcements in a single, easy-to-scroll feed. Receive breaking news alerts and share stories with friends.

**Highlights:** Local news and events for 1,200+ towns, Breaking news push notifications, Local weather forecasts and alerts, Find local jobs and announcements, One-scroll feed for town happenings, Bookmark articles for later reading, Support for following multiple towns

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗞️ Informative local news
- 📰 Comprehensive coverage of community events
- 🔍 Useful for staying up-to-date on local happenings
- 🗓️ Timely and relevant information
- 💻 Convenient online/mobile access to local news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 App stability and performance issues
- 🔍 Limited ability to customize content and notifications
- 📢 Concerns about removal of reader comments
- 🗺️ Lack of location-specific focus in some areas
- 💲 Paid subscription model for full access

**Reported bugs**

- Articles failing to load or open properly
- Notification issues, including duplicate or missing alerts
- Inconsistent app behavior after updates
- Difficulty clearing unread article indicators

**Requested features**

- Allow users to select specific news categories of interest
- Improve notification system to be more reliable and customizable
- Restore reader comment functionality
- Enhance location-based targeting and content curation
- Offer more affordable or free access options


### Neighbors by Ring

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neighbors-by-ring/id1218902777)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Stay informed about local safety with real-time updates from your community, news, and public safety agencies. Connect with neighbors to share information and build safer neighborhoods together.

**Highlights:** Real-time safety alerts, Hyper-local information, Incident Map, Safety Report, Connect with neighbors, Public safety agency collaboration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for community awareness
- 🔒 Useful for security and safety
- 👍 Good alternative to Nextdoor
- 👍 Clean and clear interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Posts frequently denied for unclear reasons
- 🤔 Inconsistent moderation of posts
- 🤔 Excessive notifications for minor events
- 🤔 Negative comments from some users

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes frequently
- Issues with changing location or neighborhood
- Inconsistent video playback and loading
- Inaccurate address display

**Requested features**

- Allow users to post phone numbers for lost pets/people
- Improve post filtering and moderation
- Enable users to customize notification settings
- Provide more transparency on post approval/denial criteria


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patch free?

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

### Is Neighbors by Ring free?

Neighbors by Ring is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Patch or Neighbors by Ring?

Neighbors by Ring is rated higher. Patch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Neighbors by Ring averages 4.8 from 305K ratings.

### Do Patch or Neighbors by Ring have ads?

Patch shows ads; Neighbors by Ring does not.

### Which is updated more often, Patch or Neighbors by Ring?

Patch ships an update every 2 months, and Neighbors by Ring every 3 weeks. Most recently, Patch was updated on October 28, 2026 and Neighbors by Ring on October 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Patch or Neighbors by Ring?

Patch currently peaks at #179 in the App Store charts, and Neighbors by Ring at #21. 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.*
