# Patches vs UserGroups

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: UserGroups at none against Patches's 2. Patches's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Patches sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. UserGroups asks for nothing beyond the download.

Patches ships an update every 9 days, UserGroups every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patches | UserGroups |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patches-best-friends-widget/id6502718859/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **12** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 40 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sascha Gordner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626726579) | [Nascent Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805124429) |

## What reviewers say

### Patches

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patches-best-friends-widget/id6502718859)

Send and receive private messages that appear directly on your home screen widget. Experience genuine surprise moments without constant notifications, fostering meaningful connections with close friends and family.

**Highlights:** Home screen widget for messages, No push notifications, Send messages to yourself, No pressure to reply, Multiple widget sizes, Widget themes, Save favorite messages

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patches Plus (1 month) | $1.99 | per month |
| Patches Plus (1 year) | $14.99 | per year |


### UserGroups

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usergroups/id6748754855)

Connect with professionals in technology through exclusive communities, share technical content, and discover relevant events. Build your network and accelerate your career with focused discussions and curated spaces.

**Highlights:** Join exclusive professional communities, Create and share technical content, Discover and attend professional events, Engage in focused discussions, Build your professional network, Save and organize content, Professional event ticketing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patches free?

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

### Is UserGroups free?

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

### Do Patches or UserGroups have ads?

UserGroups shows ads; Patches does not.

### Which is updated more often, Patches or UserGroups?

Patches ships an update every 9 days, and UserGroups every 6 weeks. Most recently, Patches was updated on October 30, 2026 and UserGroups on October 30, 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.*