# Beam vs 9PM

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Beam at 87% against 9PM's 50%. Beam also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (193 vs 1). 9PM's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 9PM sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Beam asks for nothing beyond the download.

9PM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam has 193 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 87% of Beam's written reviews are positive against 50% of 9PM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Beam ships an update every 4 days, 9PM every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beam | 9PM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-social-camera-roll/id6760328464/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9pm-visual-diary/id6798402761/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **193** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **86.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 348 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Breezi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769955769) | [9PM Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798402763) |

## What reviewers say

### Beam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-social-camera-roll/id6760328464)

This app automatically finds and shares photos of you taken by your friends. It helps you discover pictures you might have missed and easily save or share them, eliminating the need to constantly ask for photos.

**Highlights:** Find photos friends have of you, Share photos from different POVs, Save full-quality photos, Add friends to your roll, Create stories from moments, React with comments and emojis

**In-app purchases:** none


### 9PM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9pm-visual-diary/id6798402761)

This app allows users to share daily photo and video dumps with trusted friends and family. Posts are automatically published at 9 PM, revealing everyone's day. It offers a private space for creative expression without pressure from strangers.

**Highlights:** Daily photo and video posting, Automatic 9 PM posting, Private social network, Trusted contact sharing, Visual life diary, React, reply, and share

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 9PM Membership Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 9PM Membership Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Claim a Username | $4.99 | one-time |
| Claim a 3-Letter Username | $49.99 | one-time |
| Claim a 2-Letter Username | $499.99 | one-time |
| Claim a 1-Letter Username | $999.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beam free?

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

### Is 9PM free?

9PM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Beam or 9PM?

9PM is rated higher. Beam averages 4.8 out of 5 from 193 ratings, while 9PM averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Beam or 9PM have ads?

Beam shows ads; 9PM does not.

### Which is updated more often, Beam or 9PM?

Beam ships an update every 4 days, and 9PM every 6 days. Most recently, Beam was updated on October 31, 2026 and 9PM on October 29, 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.*