# Nextplus vs Parent Circle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Parent Circle at none against Nextplus's 10. Parent Circle also leads on ads (none vs shown). Nextplus's advantage is chart position (#120 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nextplus sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Parent Circle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nextplus | Parent Circle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (89K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextplus-private-phone-number/id920869470/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **89K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#120** | — |
| Size | 201 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [textPlus, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306523812) | [Josh Griffin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893048452) |

## What reviewers say

### Nextplus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextplus-private-phone-number/id920869470)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Free · Social Networking, #196 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Get a free US phone number for unlimited texting and calling to US and Canadian numbers. Works over WiFi and allows you to communicate without sharing your personal number. Offers inexpensive outbound calls and can turn devices like iPod touch into phones.

**Highlights:** Free US phone number with selectable area code, Unlimited free texting (SMS, MMS, group chat), Free inbound phone calls, Toll-free calling worldwide, Inexpensive outbound calls, WiFi calling and texting, No contracts or surprise costs

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Bundle Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Keep My Number | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Number Bundle Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Calls to US & CA | $44.99 | per year |
| 100 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2,000 Credits | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great service
- 👍 Customizable user profile and message threads
- 👍 Different ringtones to choose from
- 👍 Personalized settings
- 👍 Free app with no sign-up or hidden fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Calls sometimes drop or become inaudible
- 🐛 Unclear how call credits are applied
- 🐛 Messages sometimes don't deliver
- 🐛 Photos and videos don't always work
- 🐛 Notifications and message sync issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after updates
- Unable to create account
- Number reclamation issues
- Inability to send/receive texts and calls

**Requested features**

- Ability to log out of the app
- Improved notification system
- Better message delivery reliability
- Streamlined user interface


### Parent Circle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parent-circle/id6762130111)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nextplus free?

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

### Is Parent Circle free?

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

### Do Nextplus or Parent Circle have ads?

Nextplus shows ads; Parent Circle does not.

### Which is updated more often, Nextplus or Parent Circle?

Nextplus ships an update every 3 weeks, and Parent Circle every 3 weeks. Most recently, Nextplus was updated on November 7, 2026 and Parent Circle on October 24, 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.*