# Raven vs Orbit

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Raven at 224 against Orbit's 1. Raven also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). Orbit's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Raven sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Orbit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Raven against 5.0 for Orbit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Raven has 224 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Raven ships an update every 9 days, Orbit every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Raven | Orbit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (224 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raven-slow-messaging/id6477909689/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbit-couples-and-bff-widget/id6760682869/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **224** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 96.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 107 MB | 261 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Raven App Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731083402) | [Mayak Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1238326184) |

## What reviewers say

### Raven

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raven-slow-messaging/id6477909689)

Experience messaging as a slow, delightful journey. Messages are delivered by charming characters across a real-world map, emphasizing anticipation and the art of communication. Read messages only upon arrival, making each exchange a unique event.

**Highlights:** Choose your messenger character, Real-world map tracking, Delayed message delivery, Messages readable upon arrival, Intuitive design

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 Feathers | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Gold | $2.99 | one-time |
| 50 Feathers | $4.49 | one-time |
| 30 Gold | $7.99 | one-time |
| 100 Feathers | $7.99 | one-time |
| 250 Feathers | $18.99 | one-time |
| 500 Feathers | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Whimsical and cute design
- 🐢 Slow and intentional messaging
- 💌 Unique letter-writing experience
- 🦉 More meaningful communication
- 🎁 Joy of anticipation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Pay-to-unlock animals
- 🤷 Not much to do if no one to talk to
- 🤔 Review prompt felt off-putting

**Requested features**

- See and decorate castle
- More achievement opportunities
- More courier options
- Cat courier


### Orbit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbit-couples-and-bff-widget/id6760682869)

Connect with your closest friends and partner through live widgets on your Home Screen. Share photos, doodles, notes, moods, and even play games together without opening the app. Stay close, even when apart, with shared events and real-time updates.

**Highlights:** Live widgets for Home and Lock Screen, Share photos, doodles, notes, and moods, Play widget-based games like Tic-Tac-Toe, Track shared events and distance, Customizable widget designs, Private sharing with select friends

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| View Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus | $6.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Raven free?

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

### Is Orbit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Raven or Orbit?

Orbit is rated higher. Raven averages 4.9 out of 5 from 224 ratings, while Orbit averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Raven or Orbit have ads?

Neither Raven nor Orbit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Raven or Orbit?

Raven ships an update every 9 days, and Orbit every 4 days. Most recently, Raven was updated on November 8, 2026 and Orbit on November 5, 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.*