# Access Irvine vs Cluster

The clearest difference is rating: Cluster at 4.8 against Access Irvine's 2.9. Cluster also leads on ratings volume (22K vs 20) and review sentiment (56% vs 41%). Access Irvine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cluster sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Access Irvine asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cluster holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cluster has 22K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Access Irvine's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cluster's.

Access Irvine ships an update every 2 months, Cluster every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Access Irvine | Cluster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-irvine/id542197056/reviews) | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | **56.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [City of Irvine](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446507475) | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) |

## What reviewers say

### Access Irvine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-irvine/id542197056)

Access city services, report crimes, and find local events and resources. Stay informed about public safety and connect with city departments. This app offers a convenient way to engage with the City of Irvine.

**Highlights:** Report crimes via tip lines, Discover teen and city events, Access youth resources, View interactive maps, Find park and facility information, Contact city departments, Get public safety news

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cluster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032)

Create private groups to share photos and videos with specific people. Ideal for families, friends, or colleagues to share moments securely without broadcasting to a wider audience. Access your shared memories across mobile devices and the web.

**Highlights:** Create private sharing groups, Share photos and videos, Invite specific members, Web and mobile access, Relevant notifications, Secure and private sharing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cluster Friend | $4.99 | per month |
| Cluster Family | $9.99 | per month |
| Cluster Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Cluster Friend | $49.99 | per year |
| Cluster Family | $99.99 | per year |
| Cluster Pro | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great for sharing photos and videos
- 🔒 Allows private sharing with selected groups
- 💡 Helpful for keeping family connected
- 👍 Simple and effective interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Issues with photo/video uploads
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Glitchy performance after updates
- 🔍 Lack of search and organization features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for some users
- Photos and videos fail to upload consistently
- Notification issues - not receiving updates
- Compatibility problems with newer Android devices
- Unexpected errors when trying to access accounts

**Requested features**

- Add ability to edit/delete posts
- Improve photo/video upload reliability
- Implement better notification system
- Add option to create galleries/albums within groups
- Enhance search and filtering capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Access Irvine free?

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

### Is Cluster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Access Irvine or Cluster?

Cluster is rated higher. Access Irvine averages 2.9 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Cluster averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.

### Do Access Irvine or Cluster have ads?

Neither Access Irvine nor Cluster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Access Irvine or Cluster?

Access Irvine ships an update every 2 months, and Cluster every 4 weeks. Most recently, Access Irvine was updated on October 8, 2026 and Cluster on October 17, 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.*