# Bubbles Date vs Buddy

The clearest difference is ads: Buddy at none against Bubbles Date's shown. Bubbles Date's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Bubbles Date ships an update every 2 weeks, Buddy every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubbles Date | Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-instant-messaging/id6757757349/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 45 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Dahling Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1757717672) | [KNNK Studio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868715282) |

## What reviewers say

### Bubbles Date

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubbles-date/id6550890207)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-instant-messaging/id6757757349)

Connect with others through live chat rooms and build your social circle. Discover communities based on shared interests like gaming, music, or campus life. Enjoy direct conversations without the pressure of social media feeds.

**Highlights:** Live chat rooms, Community discovery, Customizable profiles, Buddy list management, Away messages, Mood expression

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubbles Date free?

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

### Is Buddy free?

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

### Do Bubbles Date or Buddy have ads?

Bubbles Date shows ads; Buddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bubbles Date or Buddy?

Bubbles Date ships an update every 2 weeks, and Buddy every 6 days. Most recently, Bubbles Date was updated on October 3, 2026 and Buddy on October 16, 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.*