Places vs Stranger
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Places
Connect with people in your local area or while traveling through interest-based group chats. Discover new communities and forge friendships in a safe, moderated environment. Seamlessly integrate into any city's social scene.
- Real-time group chats by interest and location
- Seamless integration into local scenes
- Diverse topics from sports to technology
- Digital recreation of 'Third Places'
- Global directory of cities and groups
- Instant access with minimal sign-up
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Explore Places: Connect, converse, and build community in any city at your fingertips! “Places” is your direct link to vibrant, real-time group chats where people unite over shared interests. It is ideal for travelers, local residents, or anyone curious about new places. The app is tailored to help you seamlessly integrate into the local scene. Why Choose Places? Engage locally, anywhere: Join live group chats tailored to your interests, needs and locations—whether it’s joining a tennis match in Dallas when visiting family, connecting with a walking group in Tel Aviv during your summer vacation, or booking tee times with your new golfing group in Ft. Lauderdale. Immerse yourself in the local scene and instantly become part of the community. No invitation necessary—just jump into the arena, put yourself out there and enjoy the experience! Seamless Integration: Effortlessly enter group chats. Just select a city, choose your interest, and you’re connected! Diverse Topics: Our chat rooms cater to a wide range of interests—from art and music to sports and technology—ensuring everyone can find their niche. Inspired by Third Places: Based on the concept of “Third Places” that promote informal public gatherings, our app digitally recreates these spaces for meaningful dialogue, idea exchange, and the forging of new friendships in a moderated, respectful environment. Core Features: Wide Reach: Access our global directory of cities and interest-based chat groups. Instant Access: Dive into new communities with just a few taps—no complicated sign-up required. Safe and Inclusive: Enjoy a safe, monitored platform designed to foster respectful and enriching interactions. Transform how you connect with cities and locals. Download the free app today and find your digital Third Place!
Stranger
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Stranger is an anonymous audio network about how we sound after surrendering how we are heard. The application runs passively in the background and listens to the world around you. When something feels meaningful, it keeps what it hears. The system decides what slips through. These moments are shared with one anonymous stranger. In return, pieces of their day arrive to you, uncurated and unedited. You're bound to just one person at a time. No context, no identity. Just an unfiltered exchange of life as it happens. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This software requires a paid subscription. Your subscription sustains an approach built without tracking, without selling user information, and without advertisements. The system operates without exploiting user attention. There is no reliance on engagement based monetization. Your support allows this to exist without compromise. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– By using this app, you are agreeing to our Terms of Service (strangernetwork.com/tos.html) and Privacy Policy (strangernetwork.com/privacy-policy.html). ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For all questions and enquiries please contact (connect@strangernetwork.com).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Places at none against Stranger's 1. Places also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Stranger's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Stranger sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Places asks for nothing beyond the download.
Places ships an update every 2 weeks, Stranger daily. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.
| Parameter | Places | Stranger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (14 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 42 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Zachary Ebenfeld | Damned Earth Dynamics Limited Company |
In-app purchases
Places
No in-app purchases
Stranger
- Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month









