ArroundU vs circles*
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArroundU
Discover real-time events and people around you. Connect locally or globally by sharing stories and messages. Explore your surroundings and engage with your community.
- Discover nearby users and trending events
- Post stories and updates
- Schedule messages
- Search and follow friends globally
- Strong privacy and safety features
- Connect digital and real-world
Read full descriptionHide full description
ArroundU – Find Friends Nearby. Chat, Add To Story, Follow & Explore. ArroundU is a social networking platform designed to help you discover what’s happening around you in real time. Built on the idea that connection should start locally, ArroundU lets you explore people, stories, and experiences nearby, while still giving you the option to connect globally. Share and Discover: - Instantly see who’s around you and what’s trending in your area. - Post stories, updates, and thoughts with nearby users or your entire network. - Schedule messages to send instantly or later—you decide when to connect. - Search and follow friends, whether they’re nearby or across the world. - Stay in control with strong privacy and safety features. ArroundU bridges the gap between digital and real-world connections by helping people engage with their surroundings. Whether you’re in New York City or anywhere in the world, ArroundU makes meeting new people, sharing experiences, and discovering local moments effortless. Made with love in New York City for the world.
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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 device support: ArroundU at 3 against circles*'s 1. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ArroundU against 5.0 for circles*. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
ArroundU ships an update monthly, circles* every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ArroundU | circles* |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ArroundU Inc. | CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST |
Customer experience
ArroundU
circles*
In-app purchases
ArroundU
No in-app purchases
circles*
No in-app purchases
