Comparison

Kibu vs Sirkl

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kibu

This app provides a secure channel to verify identities across conversations, protecting against AI impersonation and fraud. It ensures you can confirm who you're talking to in real-time, fostering trust in digital interactions.

Highlights
  • Private, secure communication channels
  • Cross-application identity verification
  • Real-time identity confirmation
  • Protection against AI impersonation
  • Fraud prevention tools
Read full description

Most messaging apps are built to reach anyone. Kibu is built for the people you trust most. Kibu is a private, end-to-end encrypted space for your closest relationships. Group chats, direct messages, and calling, shared only with the people who belong there. HUMANS ONLY No bots, no spam, no ads, no strangers. Kibu is invite-only, and every member is a real person. With Kibu, you always know exactly who you're talking to. PRIVATE, SECURE CHAT Your group chats, direct messages, and calls are all end-to-end encrypted, from messages to files and everything in between. Only the people in the conversation can see what's shared. FULL TRANSPARENCY Nothing leaves a chat quietly. Screenshots, copied text, and exported files all notify the chat, so nothing gets shared without everyone knowing. GROUPS, GOVERNED TOGETHER In group chats, changes happen together, not by any one person alone. Important actions like adding members and changing settings go to a vote. • Assign Admin and Member roles to match how your group works • Require a majority, unanimous, or a set number of approvals • Invite people already on Kibu, or bring people in by link or QR code SECURE BY DESIGN • Your account lives on your device, not behind a username, password, or phone number. • Only you can get in. Your account unlocks with your face, on your device, and nowhere else • Per-chat notification controls keep sensitive conversations off your lock screen. Kibu is invite-only — you'll need an invitation or an organization to get started. Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you. contact@kibu.us

About

Sirkl

Organize your private groups with a dedicated platform. Manage members, schedule events, conduct polls, and share photos all in one secure space. Designed for leaders of book clubs, families, teams, and more.

Highlights
  • Invite-only group creation
  • Leader-controlled permissions
  • Group chat with media sharing
  • Event scheduling and RSVP tracking
  • Polls for group decisions
  • Automatic photo album
  • Calendar view of events
Features
Read full description

Sirkl is the private group app built for the person who organizes everything. Every group has a natural leader — the one coordinating plans over group text with no real tools. Sirkl gives that person control, visibility, and a real platform for their group. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT There’s no public feed and no ads. Every Sirkl is invite-only unless its leader chooses to make it discoverable. You invite your people, they join your Sirkl. That’s it. DISCOVER SIRKLS NEAR YOU Looking for your people? Browse public Sirkls in your area — book clubs, hiking groups, social clubs — and join or request to join right from the app. Leaders who want to grow can list their Sirkl, set rules new members agree to, and approve who gets in. Contact info stays hidden in discoverable Sirkls. YOU’RE IN CHARGE As a Sirkl leader, you control who’s in, approve events, manage permissions, and keep your group organized. EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE - Group chat with reactions, replies, and photo sharing - Private messages with archive to keep your inbox tidy - Events with RSVP tracking, check-in, and comments - Event Hub — browse local events and add them to your Sirkl - My Calendar — every event you’re going to, across every Sirkl you’re in - Pin important announcements right in your group’s chat - Polls for group decisions - Collect payments for group events with Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or Zelle - Photo album — automatically built from photos shared in chat - Member profiles with social links - Leader dashboard with member activity insights BUILT FOR REAL GROUPS Book clubs, friend groups, families, travel crews, sports teams — any group that needs a real home. Free to join any Sirkl. Create and lead as many Sirkls as you want for $29.99/year. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.sirkl.app/privacy

Screenshots

Kibu4 screens
Sirkl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kibu at none against Sirkl's 1. Kibu also leads on ratings volume (173 vs 13). Sirkl's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sirkl sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Kibu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Kibu against 5.0 for Sirkl. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kibu has 173 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kibu ships an update weekly, Sirkl every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Kibu versus Sirkl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKibuSirkl
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (173 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings173 — better13
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB70 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperKibu, Inc.KATHERINE ELIZABETH SMITH

Customer experience

Kibu

All ratings172 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Sirkl

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Kibu

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sirkl

Subscriptions1
  • First Sirkl$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Kibu free?
Kibu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sirkl free?
Sirkl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Kibu or Sirkl?
Sirkl is rated higher. Kibu averages 5.0 out of 5 from 173 ratings, while Sirkl averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do Kibu or Sirkl have ads?
Neither Kibu nor Sirkl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kibu or Sirkl?
Kibu ships an update weekly, and Sirkl every 3 days. Most recently, Kibu was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sirkl on October 24, 2026.

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