Pickax vs circles*
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pickax
This social platform prioritizes human connection with a chronological feed driven by real engagement, not algorithms. Follow creators, share content, and connect with authentic voices. It supports intentional interaction over automated control.
- Chronological-first feed
- Follow people, creators, brands
- Share posts and articles
- Watch and share Rumble videos
- Verified accounts for authenticity
- Optional paid content for creators
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Pickax puts people back in control. Most social platforms rely on automated systems to rank and prioritize content. Pickax works differently. The feed is chronological-first and shaped by real human activity rather than opaque ranking systems. On Pickax, you choose who you follow, and posts appear as they’re shared. When people actively engage, content can resurface naturally through human interaction rather than automated ranking systems. With Pickax, you can: • Follow people, creators, and brands directly • View content in a chronological-first feed influenced by real engagement • Share posts and articles freely • Watch and share Rumble videos seamlessly inside your newsfeed • Verified accounts help promote authentic, human interaction • Connect with and support voices you care about • Creators can offer optional paid content through the Pickax website Pickax is designed to support intentional connection, not automated feed control.
circles*
A private messaging application designed for intimate communication with close contacts. Share direct and group messages, voice notes, and ephemeral photos or videos. Your identity and profile are synced from an existing account, ensuring a seamless and secure experience.
- Direct and group messaging
- Voice messages
- Ephemeral photo/video sharing (Moments)
- Viewership tracking for Moments
- Profile sync from existing account
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Circles is a private messaging app for staying close with the people who matter. • Direct and group messages with the people in your circles • Voice messages • Moments — share a photo or video that disappears after 24 hours • See who has viewed your moments • Your profile, avatar, and identity sync from your Scrolls account Circles uses your existing Scrolls account to sign in — no separate signup required. Your conversations stay between you and your circles.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: circles* at 5.0 against Pickax's 4.6. circles* also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Pickax's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (23 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
circles* holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pickax has 23 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Pickax's written reviews are positive against 100% of circles*'s.
Pickax ships an update every 4 days, circles* every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pickax | circles* |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (23 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pickax | CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST |
Customer experience
Pickax
circles*
In-app purchases
Pickax
No in-app purchases
circles*
No in-app purchases
