# Cluster vs Flare

Cluster and Flare both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of Flare's written reviews are positive against 57% of Cluster's. Flare also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Cluster's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and ratings volume (22K vs 6.3K). On price, rating and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Cluster against 4.9 for Flare. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 6.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of Cluster's written reviews are positive against 96% of Flare's.

Cluster ships an update every 2 months, Flare every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cluster | Flare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032/reviews) | **[4.9 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 6.3K |
| Positive reviews | 56.6% of reviews | **96.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#53** |
| Size | 35 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) | [Flare App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1641431506) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Flare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-for-groups/id1086013687)

**Currently charting:** #53 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app streamlines group management by consolidating communication, event planning, and engagement tools. It offers features like group chats, event RSVPs, attendance tracking, photo albums, and payment collection, making it ideal for various organizations.

**Highlights:** Group chats and announcements, Event creation and attendance tracking, Photo albums and highlights, Polls and points system, Ticket sales and payment collection, File sharing and roster management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient communication
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Organized and user-friendly
- 🎨 Great features like photo albums and calendars
- 💪 Comprehensive for large groups

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with notifications and loading
- 🔒 Strict privacy settings can be limiting
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not always working properly
- Difficulty removing screenshots and photos

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove albums and events
- More customization options for admins
- Integration with personal calendars


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cluster free?

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

### Is Flare free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cluster or Flare?

Flare is rated higher. Cluster averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Flare averages 4.9 from 6.3K ratings.

### Do Cluster or Flare have ads?

Neither Cluster nor Flare shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cluster or Flare?

Cluster ships an update every 2 months, and Flare every 2 days. Most recently, Cluster was updated on September 24, 2026 and Flare on September 25, 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.*