# Loop vs Gather

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Gather at 100% against Loop's 38%. Gather also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Loop's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1K vs 2). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Loop sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Gather asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gather holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Loop has 1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Loop's written reviews are positive against 100% of Gather's.

Loop ships an update every 6 weeks, Gather every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Loop | Gather |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loop-the-matchmaking-app/id6446096597/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gather-plan-events/id6785305303/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 64 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LOOOPMEIN INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637680960) | [Cole Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/6785305305) |

## What reviewers say

### Loop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loop-the-matchmaking-app/id6446096597)

Connect with new people through your existing social circle and shared communities. Discover potential matches by seeing who your friends know and requesting introductions. Facilitates connections based on events, locations, and shared interests.

**Highlights:** Matchmaking through friends, Request introductions, Event-based groups, Location-based groups, Community matching, Professional matchmaker integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Loop Premium (1 Month) | $29.99 | per month |
| Loop Premium (3 Months) | $74.99 | per 3 months |
| Loop Premium (6 Months) | $119.99 | per 6 months |
| Loop Premium (1 Year) | $179.99 | per year |
| Premium Intro Request | $9.99 | one-time |
| Premium Match Accept | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2 Premium Match Accepts | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2 Premium Intro Requests | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3 Premium Intro Requests | $19.99 | one-time |
| 3 Premium Match Accepts | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Group Unlock | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2 Premium Group Unlocks | $34.99 | one-time |
| 3 Premium Group Unlocks | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Great concept for matchmaking
- 🤝 Helpful for setting up friends
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🎉 Success stories

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall for basic features
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🤖 Lack of communication with matches
- 🙅‍♀️ Inability to delete profile

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after recent updates
- Registration screen issues on certain devices
- Constant log-out problems
- Unreliable location feature

**Requested features**

- Ability to communicate with matches
- Improved search and filtering options
- Notification system for match outcomes
- Tools to help grow matchmaker groups
- More detailed user profiles


### Gather

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gather-plan-events/id6785305303)

Discover and plan social gatherings in your city. Find events happening nearby or create your own spontaneous meetups. Invite friends, manage RSVPs, and coordinate your night out.

**Highlights:** Discover local events, Plan future events, Invite friends, Track RSVPs, Spontaneous meetup creation, City event search

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Loop free?

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

### Is Gather free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Loop or Gather?

Gather is rated higher. Loop averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Gather averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Loop or Gather have ads?

Gather shows ads; Loop does not.

### Which is updated more often, Loop or Gather?

Loop ships an update every 6 weeks, and Gather every 5 weeks. Most recently, Loop was updated on September 30, 2026 and Gather on September 18, 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.*