GroupMe
4.7 (2.2M)Skype Communications S.a.r.lUpdated Mar 2026
Stay in touch with the people who matter most.
Designed for diverse social circles including families, roommates, coworkers, and interest-based groups who need a simple, accessible way to stay connected.
What Is GroupMe?
GroupMe is a long-standing social networking application designed to facilitate group communication for diverse circles, including families, roommates, and professional teams. By offering a simple, cross-platform interface that bridges the gap between app-based chat and traditional SMS, it provides a highly accessible communication utility. Currently, the app maintains a strong presence in the Social Networking category, holding a #9 rank in its category and #92 overall in the US App Store.
Despite its established user base and high average ratings, the product is currently experiencing a "mixed" sentiment trend. While users value its core utility for coordination, recent updates have introduced friction, specifically regarding the removal of popular media-sharing features and persistent technical issues with account verification. The app serves as a strategic communication tool within the Microsoft ecosystem, prioritizing inclusivity and simplicity over direct monetization.
Media Gallery
GroupMe Key Features
Allows users to participate in group chats via SMS, enabling communication with people who do not have the app installed.
Automatically saves and organizes all photos and videos shared within a group chat for later viewing.
Granular control over alerts, including the ability to mute specific chats or the entire application.
Integrated support for searching and sending GIFs, memes, and URL link previews directly in the chat.
One-on-one private messaging functionality within the same interface as group chats.
Synchronizes chat history and access across mobile devices and web browsers.
User Sentiment
High confidence · 99 reviewsWhat Users Love
Great app for group conversations and coordination.
It allows for easy communication among us.
User friendly.
Im not tec savey but this is so easy and makes communication and sharing of pics and ideas simple.
Pain Points
I’ve been trying to create an account and can’t because I’m not getting any verification texts.
It won't let me make an account. Keeps saying error.
The latest update took away the ability to make all the chats read at once.
Why did you take off the internet picture feature?
Is GroupMe Free? Pricing & Plans
Model: free
The app operates as a free utility, likely serving as a strategic communication tool within the broader Microsoft ecosystem rather than a direct revenue-generating product.
App Store Performance
| Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Networking | Free | #9 | |
| Overall | Free | #92 | ▲3 |
GroupMe Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong cross-platform accessibility, including web and SMS fallback.
- Massive existing user base and high historical ratings.
- Strategic backing by Microsoft/Skype infrastructure.
Cons
- Critical technical debt in the account verification/onboarding flow.
- Recent UI/UX regressions causing user frustration.
- Declining sentiment trend due to feature removal.
Market Outlook
Growth Opportunities
- Capitalize on the "SMS-first" gap in modern messaging apps.
- Improve onboarding flows to capture users frustrated by complex, feature-heavy competitors.
- Re-introduce requested power-user features to improve retention.
Market Threats
- High competition from dominant platforms like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Slack.
- Potential for user churn if account verification issues remain unaddressed.
- Dependency on SMS infrastructure costs and carrier reliability.
The Bottom Line
GroupMe is a divisive social networking app that is completely free. With a 4.7/5 rating from 2.2M reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users. Users particularly appreciate effective group communication, though account access and verification issues remains a common concern.
Best for: Designed for diverse social circles including families, roommates, coworkers, and interest-based groups who need a simple, accessible way to stay connected.
App Details
iOS Version
15.51
Android Version
15.45.33
Release Date
Sep 25, 2010
iOS Price
Free
Android Price
Free
Developer
Skype Communications S.a.r.l