# Cluster vs MITA Messenger

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MITA Messenger at none against Cluster's 6. Cluster's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 4). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

MITA Messenger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. 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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cluster | MITA Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cluster/id596595032/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mita-messenger/id6478120280/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 56.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 37 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) | [American Federation of Teachers (Middle Island)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731874998) |

## 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


### MITA Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mita-messenger/id6478120280)

Connect with fellow members of the Middle Island Teachers' Association. Stay informed about union news and upcoming events, and communicate directly with leadership.

**Highlights:** Union news updates, Upcoming event information, Direct communication with leadership, Member-exclusive content, Building and union communication

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cluster free?

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

### Is MITA Messenger free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cluster or MITA Messenger?

MITA Messenger is rated higher. Cluster averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while MITA Messenger averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Cluster or MITA Messenger have ads?

Neither Cluster nor MITA Messenger shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cluster or MITA Messenger?

Cluster ships an update every 3 weeks, and MITA Messenger every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cluster was updated on November 8, 2026 and MITA Messenger on November 4, 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.*