# Marco Polo vs Vision Source

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vision Source at none against Marco Polo's 11. Marco Polo's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (2.2M vs 84). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Marco Polo sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Vision Source asks for nothing beyond the download.

Vision Source holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Marco Polo has 2.2M ratings behind it against 84, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Marco Polo ships an update weekly, Vision Source every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Marco Polo | Vision Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374/reviews) | **[4.9 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vision-source/id6751123496/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2M** | 84 |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 222 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Joya Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/530046419) | [Vision Source](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143267672) |

## What reviewers say

### Marco Polo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #111 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect face-to-face with loved ones through private, ad-free video messages. This app allows for asynchronous conversations, letting you send and receive video messages on your own schedule, fostering deeper connections without social media pressures.

**Highlights:** Asynchronous video messaging, Private, ad-free communication, One-on-one and group chats, Emoji reactions and special effects, Sharecast feature, Speed control, Background listening

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage | $7.99 | per month |
| Marco Polo Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Marco Polo Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Marco Polo Plus - Family Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage | $47.99 | per year |
| Marco Polo Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Marco Polo Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $159.99 | per year |
| Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $159.99 | per year |
| Plus Guest Pass | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for long-distance communication
- 🚀 Convenient video messaging
- 💡 Allows asynchronous communication
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helps maintain relationships

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Video and audio quality issues
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 High data usage
- 🔒 Removing previously free features

**Reported bugs**

- Videos stopping or going black during playback
- Issues with marking messages as unwatched
- Inconsistent behavior after app updates
- Forced upgrade to paid version without warning

**Requested features**

- Add text messaging capabilities
- Improve video/audio quality
- Bring back previously free features
- Add option to save/download videos
- Improve navigation and playback controls


### Vision Source

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vision-source/id6751123496)

A collaborative platform for independent optometrists to grow their practices, share knowledge, and access resources. Connect with peers, discover new technologies, and stay updated on industry advancements in a supportive environment.

**Highlights:** Collaborative hub for optometrists, Practice growth resources, Knowledge sharing, Real-time chat spaces, Industry updates and announcements, Access to cutting-edge technologies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Marco Polo free?

Marco Polo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Vision Source free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Marco Polo or Vision Source?

Vision Source is rated higher. Marco Polo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while Vision Source averages 4.9 from 84 ratings.

### Do Marco Polo or Vision Source have ads?

Neither Marco Polo nor Vision Source shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Marco Polo or Vision Source?

Marco Polo ships an update weekly, and Vision Source every 2 months. Most recently, Marco Polo was updated on October 30, 2026 and Vision Source on October 28, 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.*