Grain Social vs Cirra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Grain Social
This photo-first social networking app allows users to share galleries of images with titles, descriptions, and locations, as well as ephemeral 24-hour stories. It offers multiple feed options including following, curated content, camera type, and location-based browsing. Sign-in is integrated with a Bluesky account.
- Post image galleries with titles and descriptions
- Share 24-hour ephemeral stories
- Browse feeds by following, curated, camera, or location
- Add alt text to photos
- Integrates with Bluesky accounts
- Supports @mentions, #hashtags, and links
Read full descriptionHide full description
Grain is a photo-first social app. Post galleries, share 24-hour stories, and browse feeds by following, For You, camera, or location. Galleries One photo or a full set. Each gallery has a title, description, and location. Add alt text on individual photos. EXIF is read from the file and kept intact. Stories Share something in the moment. Stories disappear after 24 hours. Favorite and comment the same as on galleries. Feeds Pin the ones you want: following, For You, by camera body, or by location with a map. Mentions, hashtags, links @mention people, add #hashtags, paste links. All tappable. Sign in with your Bluesky account No new password. Your Bluesky handle and followers come with you. People who follow you on Bluesky can find you on Grain, and the people you already follow are here too. Don't have a Bluesky account? Make one at bsky.app, then sign in.
Cirra
A private social network for sharing everyday moments with close friends and family. Build your circle, share photos and videos, and engage in thoughtful conversations without broadcasting to a wide audience. Manage your connections and experience in a personal space.
- Private social space
- Share photos and videos
- Build and manage your circle
- Thoughtful conversations
- Personalized profile
- Connection controls
Read full descriptionHide full description
Cirra is a private social space for the people you actually know. Build your Circle, share everyday moments, and stay connected through photos, videos, carousels, and thoughtful responses—without broadcasting your life to everyone. SHARE YOUR MOMENTS Post a single photo, a collection of photos, or a video. Add a caption and share it directly with your Circle. BUILD YOUR CIRCLE Find people you know, send Circle requests, invite friends, and create a more personal space for staying connected. KEEP CONVERSATIONS CLOSE Respond to moments, reply to people in your Circle, and see recent comments and Circle activity in one place. YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR SPACE Your profile keeps your shared moments together, while connection controls, blocking, and reporting tools help you manage your experience. Cirra is designed for close friends, family, and the people whose everyday lives matter to you. A paid monthly membership is required for full access. Subscription pricing is displayed before purchase and may vary by region. Membership automatically renews unless canceled through your Apple account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cirra at 100% against Grain Social's 50%. Cirra also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Grain Social's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Cirra sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Grain Social asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cirra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Grain Social's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cirra's.
Grain Social ships an update every 2 weeks, Cirra every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Grain Social | Cirra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Chad Miller | Arcfolk Labs |
Customer experience
Grain Social
Cirra
In-app purchases
Grain Social
No in-app purchases
Cirra
- Cirra Founding Member Monthly$1.991 Month
