Comparison

Marco Polo vs Circool

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

Head to head
About

Marco Polo

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
Read full description

Marco Polo is the video chat app that brings you closer to the people who matter most without asking you to compromise on trust. ONE VIDEO IS WORTH A THOUSAND TEXTS Communicate face-to-face in a private, ad-free space with no interruptions or intrusions. This award-winning video chat app isn’t social media. There are no “likes” or comparisons, and there are no tricks to keep you on the app for longer than you wish. SIMPLE, CONVENIENT, ANYTIME CONNECTION Send a video. Get one back. Talk one-on-one or in groups. Continue the conversation on your own schedule. YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON TRUST Our purpose? To help people feel close. To fulfill it, Marco Polo does things differently. We monetize responsibly. The Marco Polo Plus subscription plan allows us to make money in a way that’s true to our purpose – no ads, no selling your data – while maintaining a free service for the majority of our community. We hold ourselves accountable. Earning your trust is vital to our team, from the technology we create to the business decisions we make. We measure our impact. Does our product deliver on our promise and our purpose? Does it make people happier? Research indicates yes, and we commit to conducting this research regularly to ensure we stay on track. CHOOSE THE VERSION THAT FITS YOUR LIFE Marco Polo is FREE, with: Unlimited chats and groups Emoji reactions and fun special effects Sharecast, our newest feature. Send one video to everyone in your circle, and only you see reactions and replies. It’s the convenience of groups with no cross-conversations. Marco Polo Plus offers premium features including: 1.5-3x speed control Background listening Custom and animated emojis 6 Plus Passes so you can share 2 months free with friends and family Marco Polo Plus Family Save with up to six memberships with one plan. Plus Family is not limited to members within one household. - Payments are charged to the user's Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions automatically renew unless the user cancels at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - The account is charged for renewal within 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Users can manage and cancel subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store. Terms of Service: https://www.marcopolo.me/terms/

About

Circool

Connects content creators with brands for real-world experiences. Discover events, sign up easily, and share your experiences directly through the app. Brands can also use the platform to find verified creators.

Highlights
  • Create creator profile with content and social links
  • Discover and sign up for brand experiences
  • Track inscription status and receive notifications
  • Upload content directly from the app
  • Verified creator community for safety
  • Brand portal for creating experiences and finding creators
Features
Read full description

Circool conecta a creadores de contenido con marcas a través de experiencias reales. ¿Te imaginas que tus marcas favoritas te inviten a vivir sus experiencias? Con Circool, tu contenido y tu comunidad abren la puerta a eventos, lanzamientos y activaciones pensadas para ti. Descubre experiencias, inscríbete en segundos y comparte lo que vives con tu audiencia. CÓMO FUNCIONA 1. Crea tu perfil de creador: cuéntanos sobre tu contenido, sube tus fotos y vincula tus redes sociales. 2. Elige hasta 3 categorías que van contigo para recibir experiencias hechas a tu medida. 3. Explora las experiencias disponibles e inscríbete en las que más te interesen. 4. Sigue el estado de tus inscripciones y recibe notificaciones cuando una marca te confirme. 5. Vive la experiencia y sube tu contenido directamente desde la app. DESCUBRE EXPERIENCIAS • Explora experiencias de marcas organizadas por categorías. • Guarda tus favoritas para no perderlas de vista. • Revisa fecha, lugar y todos los detalles antes de inscribirte. TU PERFIL DE CREADOR • Muestra quién eres: tus fotos, tus categorías y tus redes sociales en un solo lugar. • Las marcas revisan tu perfil para invitarte a las experiencias correctas. • Actualiza tu información cuando quieras. TUS EXPERIENCIAS, ORGANIZADAS • Consulta el estado de cada inscripción: pendiente o confirmada. • Recibe notificaciones para no perderte ninguna novedad. • Sube el contenido que creaste en cada experiencia y compártelo con la marca. UNA COMUNIDAD SEGURA Cada perfil pasa por un proceso de verificación antes de ser visible. Así mantenemos una comunidad confiable tanto para creadores como para marcas. ¿ERES UNA MARCA? Circool también es para ti: crea experiencias, descubre creadores verificados y conecta con las personas que mejor representan tu marca desde nuestro panel web. Descarga Circool gratis y empieza a vivir experiencias que valen la pena compartir.

Screenshots

Marco Polo4 screens
Circool3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Marco Polo at 4.8 against Circool's 1.0. Marco Polo also leads on ratings volume (2.2M vs 1) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). Circool's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Marco Polo sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Circool asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Marco Polo holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Marco Polo has 2.2M ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Marco Polo ships an update weekly, Circool every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Marco Polo versus Circool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarco PoloCircool
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.2M ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews65.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.2M — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size222 MB40 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJoya CommunicationsCinthya vitery

Customer experience

Marco Polo

All ratings2,163,503 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral3.2%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,466 reviews
Positive65.3%
Neutral9.2%
Negative25.5%

Circool

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Marco Polo

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

6 requests
  • Add text messaging capabilities
  • Improve video/audio quality
  • Bring back previously free features
  • Add option to save/download videos
  • Improve navigation and playback controls
Show 1 more
  • Expand emoji and reaction options

Circool

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Marco Polo

Subscriptions10
  • Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage$7.991 Month
  • Marco Polo Plus7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Marco Polo Plus14 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Marco Polo Plus - Family Plan7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage$47.991 Year
  • Marco Polo Plus$79.991 Year
  • Marco Polo Plus7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan$159.991 Year
  • Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan7 Days trial$159.991 Year
One-time1
  • Plus Guest Pass$14.99
None

Circool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Marco Polo free?
Marco Polo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Circool free?
Circool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Marco Polo or Circool?
Marco Polo is rated higher. Marco Polo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while Circool averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Marco Polo or Circool have ads?
Neither Marco Polo nor Circool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Marco Polo or Circool?
Marco Polo ships an update weekly, and Circool every 5 days. Most recently, Marco Polo was updated on November 1, 2026 and Circool on October 28, 2026.

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