# AniMates vs ThingsBook

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ThingsBook at none against AniMates's 4. ThingsBook also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 5) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AniMates sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ThingsBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ThingsBook holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ThingsBook has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of AniMates's written reviews are positive against 70% of ThingsBook's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AniMates | ThingsBook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animates/id6744946574/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thingsbook/id6745533235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **70.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#49** |
| Size | 72 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GX Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810101987) | [Naver U.Hub Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1812794864) |

## What reviewers say

### AniMates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animates/id6744946574)

Connect with fellow anime enthusiasts through local meetups and events. Discover or create gatherings, from casual hangouts to convention groups, and build your community. Earn points to unlock exclusive features and expand your network.

**Highlights:** Discover local anime meetups, Create custom events, Connect with fans, Join convention groups, Earn Power Level points, Unlock exclusive features

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AniMates Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| AniMates Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium Cooldown Reset | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cooldown Reset | $2.99 | one-time |


### ThingsBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thingsbook/id6745533235)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Capture your life's moments through long-form writing and organized collections. This platform allows you to create a lasting personal archive of your thoughts, memories, and interests, with options to share privately or publicly.

**Highlights:** Long-form writing, Structured collections, Personal archive, Customizable sharing, Life documentation, Writing prompts

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AniMates free?

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

### Is ThingsBook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AniMates or ThingsBook?

ThingsBook is rated higher. AniMates averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ThingsBook averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do AniMates or ThingsBook have ads?

Neither AniMates nor ThingsBook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AniMates or ThingsBook?

AniMates ships an update fortnightly, and ThingsBook fortnightly. Most recently, AniMates was updated on October 7, 2026 and ThingsBook on October 23, 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.*