# PenPal Messenger vs Hive

The clearest difference is rating: Hive at 5.0 against PenPal Messenger's 3.0. Hive also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). PenPal Messenger's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hive holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively.

PenPal Messenger ships an update every 3 months, Hive every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PenPal Messenger | Hive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penpal-messenger/id6450924358/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-join-the-buzz/id6472683219/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Manny P Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1695717335) | [Blankwall Software Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1717509147) |

## What reviewers say

### PenPal Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penpal-messenger/id6450924358)

This social networking app facilitates anonymous conversations between matched participants for four weeks. It's designed to foster meaningful connections through a unique dating experience, culminating in a voice call and a formal date.

**Highlights:** Anonymous messaging, Participant matching, Scheduled voice calls, Formal date arrangements, Unique dating experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-join-the-buzz/id6472683219)

This social platform focuses on genuine connections by helping you discover local events and find communities based on shared interests. Create or join groups to foster authentic conversations and build spaces that matter.

**Highlights:** Discover local events, Find people with shared interests, Create and manage communities, In-app ticket purchasing, QR code check-ins for events, Authentic, non-algorithm-driven feeds

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PenPal Messenger free?

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

### Is Hive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PenPal Messenger or Hive?

Hive is rated higher. PenPal Messenger averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Hive averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do PenPal Messenger or Hive have ads?

Neither PenPal Messenger nor Hive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PenPal Messenger or Hive?

PenPal Messenger ships an update every 3 months, and Hive every 3 weeks. Most recently, PenPal Messenger was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hive on October 21, 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.*