# The Circle vs circles*

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Circle at every 8 days against circles*'s every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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.

The Circle ships an update every 8 days, circles* every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Circle | circles* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 90 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AlgoAi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657479240) | [CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887701443) |

## What reviewers say

### The Circle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-circle-step-inside/id6753628912)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### circles*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004)

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.

**Highlights:** Direct and group messaging, Voice messages, Ephemeral photo/video sharing (Moments), Viewership tracking for Moments, Profile sync from existing account

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Circle free?

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

### Is circles* free?

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

### Do The Circle or circles* have ads?

Neither The Circle nor circles* shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Circle or circles*?

The Circle ships an update every 8 days, and circles* every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Circle was updated on September 9, 2026 and circles* on September 13, 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.*