# Parallel Social vs Lenz

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Parallel Social at 5 against Lenz's 1. Parallel Social also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Parallel Social against 5.0 for Lenz. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Parallel Social has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Parallel Social ships an update every 3 weeks, Lenz monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Parallel Social | Lenz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parallel-social/id6455427268/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenz-social/id6462376235/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 257 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Parallel Communications LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712009149) | [James Lorenz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702984641) |

## What reviewers say

### Parallel Social

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parallel-social/id6455427268)

This social network prioritizes authentic connections and user privacy with an open-source, community-driven approach. It offers an algorithm-free, chronological feed for a more transparent and controlled social media experience.

**Highlights:** Privacy-first design, Open-source and community-driven, Algorithm-free chronological feed, Authentic connections, Transparent platform

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lenz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenz-social/id6462376235)

Discover and connect with people in your immediate vicinity through a proximity-based map. Share photos, captions, and engage with your connections' posts, fostering real-world interactions.

**Highlights:** Proximity-based map for nearby connections, Post photos with captions to your feed, Like, comment, and share posts, Direct messaging for conversations, Friend list management, Profile linking to other social media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Parallel Social free?

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

### Is Lenz free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Parallel Social or Lenz?

Parallel Social and Lenz are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Parallel Social or Lenz have ads?

Neither Parallel Social nor Lenz shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Parallel Social or Lenz?

Parallel Social ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lenz monthly. Most recently, Parallel Social was updated on November 3, 2026 and Lenz on November 3, 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.*