# Cluster vs HootBoard

The clearest difference is rating: Cluster at 4.8 against HootBoard's 3.5. Cluster also leads on ratings volume (22K vs 4) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). HootBoard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Cluster holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cluster has 22K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Cluster's written reviews are positive against 50% of HootBoard's.

Cluster ships an update every 4 weeks, HootBoard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cluster | HootBoard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hootboard/id1141706263/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **56.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 37 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) | [HOOTBOARD LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141706262) |

## 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


### HootBoard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hootboard/id1141706263)

Stay updated and contribute to your organization's digital bulletin board. Post announcements, events, and jobs on the go, and receive real-time notifications. Engage in discussions and manage content easily.

**Highlights:** Post updates on the go, Receive push notifications, View and add events to calendar, Engage with comments and questions, Filter content with collections, Admin content review and management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cluster free?

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

### Is HootBoard free?

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

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

Cluster is rated higher. Cluster averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while HootBoard averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Cluster or HootBoard have ads?

Neither Cluster nor HootBoard shows ads.

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

Cluster ships an update every 4 weeks, and HootBoard every 2 months. Most recently, Cluster was updated on October 18, 2026 and HootBoard on September 23, 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.*