# ArroundU vs circles*

The clearest difference is update cadence: circles* at fortnightly against ArroundU's monthly. ArroundU's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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* fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArroundU | circles* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arroundu/id6753788846/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles/id6762500004/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 26 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ArroundU Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731232370) | [CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY PROVOST](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887701443) |

## What reviewers say

### ArroundU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arroundu/id6753788846)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 ArroundU free?

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

### Is circles* free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArroundU or circles*?

ArroundU and circles* are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do ArroundU or circles* have ads?

Neither ArroundU nor circles* shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArroundU or circles*?

ArroundU ships an update monthly, and circles* fortnightly. Most recently, ArroundU was updated on October 18, 2026 and circles* on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*