# Inmate Canteen vs ACBL Loop

The clearest difference is rating: ACBL Loop at 5.0 against Inmate Canteen's 1.2. ACBL Loop also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Inmate Canteen's advantage is ratings volume (85 vs 4). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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.

ACBL Loop holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Inmate Canteen has 85 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Inmate Canteen ships an update monthly, ACBL Loop fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Inmate Canteen | ACBL Loop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.2 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inmate-canteen/id6737781368/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acbl-loop/id6741415862/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 95 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TWVending Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/624033121) | [American Commercial Barge Line LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794071461) |

## What reviewers say

### Inmate Canteen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inmate-canteen/id6737781368)

Connect with incarcerated individuals through a dedicated communication platform. Send messages, make video calls, and conduct voice calls to stay in touch with loved ones.

**Highlights:** Message inmates, Video calls, Voice calls, Inmate communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### ACBL Loop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acbl-loop/id6741415862)

Stay informed with the official communication app for American Commercial Barge Line. Access company news, industry insights, and career opportunities on the go. Discover exclusive benefits and connect with professionals in marine transportation.

**Highlights:** Real-time news and company updates, Push notifications for key events, Career opportunity alerts, Exclusive employee and partner benefits, Industry insights on barge transportation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Inmate Canteen free?

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

### Is ACBL Loop free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Inmate Canteen or ACBL Loop?

ACBL Loop is rated higher. Inmate Canteen averages 1.2 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while ACBL Loop averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Inmate Canteen or ACBL Loop have ads?

Inmate Canteen shows ads; ACBL Loop does not.

### Which is updated more often, Inmate Canteen or ACBL Loop?

Inmate Canteen ships an update monthly, and ACBL Loop fortnightly. Most recently, Inmate Canteen was updated on October 12, 2026 and ACBL Loop on October 8, 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.*