Comparison

BiggerCity vs W | Bear

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

Head to head
About

BiggerCity

This app connects gay men of size (Chubs and Bears) and their admirers. It provides a platform for finding fun, dating, friendship, and community through browsing, chatting, and private messaging. Users can also engage in video calls and discover local social events.

Highlights
  • Browse men globally
  • Advanced search filters
  • Instant chat
  • Photo and audio sharing
  • Video calls
  • Profile views
  • Community events
Features
Read full description

BiggerCity is the premier app for gay men of size (Chubs and Bears) and their admirers. Whether you’re looking for fun, dating, friendship, or community, BiggerCity offers a welcoming space where big men and their admirers can browse, chat, and connect. With more than two decades in the social networking and dating space, BiggerCity remains one of the few independent, gay-owned platforms dedicated to the Chub and Bear communities. KEY FEATURES ∙ Browse men near you or around the world ∙ Use advanced filters to find your ideal match ∙ Chat instantly with anyone online ∙ Share photos and audio via private messages ∙ Flirt to show your interest ∙ Connect face-to-face with video calls ∙ See who’s been checking out your profile ∙ Keep your photos and videos private or share them ∙ Stay connected through social events for the community MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIPTIONS BiggerCity is free to download and use, offering free membership with access to many features other apps typically charge for. For additional perks, Premium subscriptions are available for purchase within the app. A BiggerCity Premium plan subscription is valid for the time period you select: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged the listed renewal price within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. Subscriptions can be managed directly from your device through Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. PRIVACY & SECURITY Your safety and privacy are our top priorities. BiggerCity uses strong data protection and profile verification to help ensure a secure experience for all members. ABOUT ∙ BiggerCity is for gay and bisexual adults, 18 years or older. ∙ Privacy policy: https://www.biggercity.com/help/?show=privacy ∙ Terms of Service: https://www.biggercity.com/help/?show=tos ∙ Customer support: https://www.biggercity.com/help/

About

W | Bear

This social networking app connects individuals within the gay bear community. Build meaningful relationships, share your life through photos and videos, and discover local and global events. It's an inclusive space for diverse identities to connect and celebrate.

Highlights
  • Connect with users nearby or globally
  • Explore profiles with shared interests
  • Share photos and videos
  • Discover local and global events
  • Inclusive community for diverse identities
  • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Features
Read full description

Discover W | Bear, the social networking app designed by bears, for the gay bear community. Build meaningful connections, share your world, chat with friends, and explore events – all in one inclusive space. Meet & Connect • Find friendly faces nearby or around the world. • Explore profiles with shared interests and values. • Start conversations and build lasting connections. Share & Explore • Share photos and videos that reflect who you are. • Interact with posts by liking and commenting. • Use tags to connect with others who share your identity and interests. Stay in the Loop • Discover local and global bear events – from casual meetups to big celebrations. • Find out who’s attending and connect before the fun begins. Celebrate Diversity • However you identify – bear, cub, otter, chaser, or beyond – you’re welcome here. • Be part of a community rooted in friendship, authenticity, and mutual respect. Easy to Use • Create your profile in minutes. • Navigate smoothly with intuitive tools and design. • Continue conversations across devices without missing a beat. W | Bear is free to download and open to individuals 18 and older. Premium subscriptions are available for an enhanced experience. W | Bear Terms of Service: http://wnet.lgbt/tos.html W | Bear EULA: http://wnet.lgbt/eula.html Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

BiggerCity4 screens
W | Bear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: W | Bear at none against BiggerCity's shown. BiggerCity's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 40%) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. BiggerCity sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and W | Bear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for BiggerCity against 4.5 for W | Bear. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.9K and 2.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of BiggerCity's written reviews are positive against 40% of W | Bear's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BiggerCity ships an update every 3 weeks, W | Bear monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BiggerCity versus W | Bear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBiggerCityW | Bear
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6.9K ratings)4.5 (2.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.8% of reviews — better40.3% of reviews
Number of ratings6.9K — better2.6K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB79 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBCPIgNetLabs, Inc.

Customer experience

BiggerCity

All ratings6,916 ratings
Positive85.9%
Neutral5.8%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews269 reviews
Positive49.8%
Neutral8.9%
Negative41.3%

W | Bear

All ratings2,554 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive40.3%
Neutral13.9%
Negative45.8%

User reviews

BiggerCity

From 6.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤗 Friendly community
  • 👍 Easy to use app
  • 💕 Great for chubs and chasers
  • 🌟 Awesome app
  • 🌍 Global community

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔒 Poor security and moderation
  • 💰 Expensive premium features
  • 🙅‍♂️ Strict community guidelines
  • 🚫 Limited blocks for free users

W | Bear

From 2.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Great community
  • 📷 Visually appealing interface
  • 🔒 Respects user privacy
  • 💰 Worthwhile subscription
  • 🐻 Specific to bears/chasers

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable
  • ⏱️ Slow performance and loading times
  • 🔍 Lack of search/filtering options
  • 🔒 Restrictive for non-subscribers
  • 🔧 Lack of updates and bug fixes

Bugs and requests

BiggerCity

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login and connection issues
  • Unreliable push notifications
  • Inconsistent app performance
  • Inability to edit profile or upload photos

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improve in-app messaging and notifications
  • Add forums and social features to the app
  • Enhance search and filtering options
  • Implement better user verification and moderation
  • Provide more customization and personalization

W | Bear

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when switching between profiles
  • Inability to delete account or photos
  • Inconsistent behavior when blocking users
  • Photos not showing up in global feeds
  • Login issues and account lockouts

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to manage private album access
  • Improved notification management
  • Dark mode option
  • Better photo/video upload and editing tools
  • In-app support and feedback channels

In-app purchases

10 purchases

BiggerCity

Subscriptions4
  • Premium: 1 month$8.991 Month
  • Premium: 3 months$21.993 Months
  • Premium: 6 months$32.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Premium: 1 year$54.991 Year
One-time6
  • Coins: 1,000$4.99
  • Coins: 2,000$9.99
  • Coins: 4,000$19.99
Show 3 more
  • Coins: 10,000$39.99
  • Coins: 18,000$59.99
  • Coins: 33,600$99.99
3 purchases

W | Bear

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month$12.991 Month
  • 3 Months$28.993 Months
  • 1 Year$79.991 Year

Questions

Is BiggerCity free?
BiggerCity is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is W | Bear free?
W | Bear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BiggerCity or W | Bear?
W | Bear is rated higher. BiggerCity averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.9K ratings, while W | Bear averages 4.5 from 2.6K ratings.
Do BiggerCity or W | Bear have ads?
BiggerCity shows ads; W | Bear does not.
Which is updated more often, BiggerCity or W | Bear?
BiggerCity ships an update every 3 weeks, and W | Bear monthly. Most recently, BiggerCity was updated on October 29, 2026 and W | Bear on October 29, 2026.

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