# PONGE vs CoupleStory

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PONGE at none against CoupleStory's 6. CoupleStory's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CoupleStory sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $15.00 per month. PONGE asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PONGE | CoupleStory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [GREATEARTH CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890015895) | [Panther Media Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896718425) |

## What reviewers say

### PONGE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ponge/id6747275359)

Discover LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, events, and communities on a map. Share your current mood with temporary messages and connect through community posts and private chats with AI translation.

**Highlights:** Map-based discovery of spaces and events, Temporary mood sharing ('Shouting'), Community posts and comments, 1:1 chats with AI translation, Multi-language support, Safety and reporting features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### CoupleStory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/couplestory-relationship-app/id6770138603)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CoupleStory Plus Monthly | $15.00 | per month |
| CoupleStory Plus Annual | $75.00 | per year |
| 150 Embers | $5.00 | one-time |
| 350 Embers | $10.00 | one-time |
| 800 Embers | $20.00 | one-time |
| 1,800 Embers | $40.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PONGE free?

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

### Is CoupleStory free?

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

### Do PONGE or CoupleStory have ads?

Neither PONGE nor CoupleStory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PONGE or CoupleStory?

PONGE ships an update weekly, and CoupleStory weekly. Most recently, PONGE was updated on October 12, 2026 and CoupleStory on October 5, 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.*