The Circles app provides audio-only online support groups for those struggling with toxic relationships, breakups, and divorce. Support group meetings are offered multiple times a day, seven days a week, and are run by experienced mental health professionals. Circles offers a seven-day free trial and costs $29.99 monthly. They do not accept insurance at this time.
Circles At a Glance
Pros & Cons
- Quick signup and group joining
- Anonymous, audio-only group sessions
- Available to individuals 18+ throughout the US
- Choose from three monthly subscription plans
- App and website are user-friendly
- Does not accept any health insurance plans
- No individual therapy offered
- Messaging works more like email
Preview Circles
The Circles app offers audio-only online support groups for individuals navigating toxic relationships, breakups, and divorce. Users enjoy unlimited access to group sessions (referred to as “circles”), Masterclass workshops, and peer-led circles for continuous support. Circles’ key features provide support through mental health experts as well as peers. Members can also chat with peers sharing similar experiences in the message board forums. Subscriptions cost $29 monthly, $14.9 monthly for 12 months, or $21.5 monthly for six months. There is a seven-day free trial. Circles does not accept insurance.
The online support group meetings hosted by vetted mental health professionals are the primary feature of the Circles app. Circles is audio-only, available daily at multiple times, and can be found on the Home tab. While circles are offered daily and run by vetted facilitators, Masterclasses aren’t offered as often and are run by professional partners and outside users. Members can host or “Guide” their own peer group support meetings at any time.
Circles offers some impressive group support services, but it’s not for everyone. Those who prefer to have live video sessions and anyone who wants a more personalized group matching approach will need to find an alternative.
Why You Can Trust My Review
Review our scoring criteria for online group therapy & support groups here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Firsthand Circles Reviews
Detailed Review of Circles – What is Circles?
The Circles app, circlesup, provides unlimited access to online support group meetings, called circles, Masterclass workshops, and peer-led circles. Members can also chat with peers sharing similar experiences in the message board forums. Subscriptions cost $29 monthly and come with a seven-day free trial. Circles does not accept insurance.
Once you download the app and create an account, you’ll access the main menu. You’ll find a welcome message from a customer service rep in your inbox, which includes a self-assessment exercise to help you find the right circles to join. You can take a look around, view the hosts’ profiles, see the topics covered, and get a feel for how the app works. You must begin a seven-day free trial in order to attend a meeting or workshop.
Circles, which are what they call the support groups, are audio-only, available daily at multiple times, and can be found on the Home tab. Scroll through the list of scheduled circles to join, or you can set a reminder to attend. Once you enter a circle or Masterclass workshop, you’ll be placed on mute. There are hand-raise, heart, and unmute buttons at the bottom of the screen for you to use to participate in meetings or workshops.
While circles are offered daily and run by vetted facilitators, Masterclasses aren’t offered as often and are run by professional partners and outside users. Members can also host their own peer support meetings at any time. Just click on ‘Guide a Room,’ choose a topic, and the meeting will appear on the main menu for others to join. Keep in mind that the peer-led support groups are not led by mental health professionals.
Circles App Key Features
Circles’ key features provide support through licensed mental health professionals as well as peers. They include online support group meetings, called circles, Masterclass workshops, peer-led guided sessions, and message board forums. Circles costs $29 monthly and includes a seven-day free trial. They do not accept insurance at this time.
Online Support Group Meetings – Circles
The online support group meetings hosted by vetted mental health professionals are the primary feature of the Circles app. There are multiple meetings hosted several times a day that cover a variety of topics related to divorce, breakups, and toxic relationships.
While I found the list of topics to be somewhat limited, there are some specific topics that you don’t often find with online therapy companies, like codependency. If you’re looking for a specific type of support that doesn’t fall into these categories, you can check out our list of the best online therapy companies available right now.
When you enter a group meeting, your mic will be muted, but there is an unmute button at the bottom of the screen for you to use to participate. There’s also a hand-raise button to request to speak and a heart button to show support to a peer. You can use the chat tool to share thoughts via text throughout the meeting as well. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to, and you can remain anonymous by using a nickname at registration.
Masterclass Workshops
Masterclass workshops are led by professional partners and outside users rather than the Circles’ facilitators. They’re much more educational than the meetings, but the participants still share personal stories that are relevant to the topic, so it could also be considered a source of support.
Peer-to-Peer Support
The peer-to-peer support offered in Circles is quite remarkable. Between the message board forums and the ability to start your own support group at any time, it’s easy to connect with someone or multiple people in a time of crisis.
I jumped into a circle that was run by a “Guide” (a Circles user) that only had about five participants. I was a few minutes late, but the Guide immediately greeted me and updated me on the current conversation. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of trust among the members. It was clear they had no problems being open, honest, and vulnerable with one another.
How Much Does Circles Cost?
The Circles App costs $29 monthly and offers a seven-day free trial. Memberships can also be purchased for 6 and 12 months at a time for a lower monthly cost. For six months, you pay $21.5 monthly. For 12 months, you can $14.9 monthly.
Circles App Discounts
The Circles app wants to extend support to as many people as possible, so they offer financial assistance to those who qualify. Reach out to their customer care team at [email protected] to learn more.
How to Get Started with the Circles App
Getting started with Circles is incredibly easy and takes about five minutes to create an account. Simply follow the steps below to join your first group support meeting.
Visit the Circles website or download the Circles App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Choose a topic.
Enter your name or nickname, email address, and phone number.
Click on ‘Begin Seven-Day Free Trial.’
Find a meeting or workshop that resonates with you.
Set a reminder to join a meeting or join a live meeting.
Attend your first group support meeting.
Who Does Circles Serve?
Circles serves people 18+ who are looking for audio-only emotional support groups related to topics like toxic relationships, narcissism, breakups, and divorce.
Circles Vs. Competitors
Circles offers convenient access to a supportive community, but it’s not the only online support group service out there. Below is a brief comparison summary of Circles and one of its top competitors, Grouport.
Circles Vs Grouport
User Reviews of Circles
The Circles App has a 4.8-star rating from 1.9K reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4.5-star rating from 255 reviews in the Google Play Store. In positive reviews, members mentioned loving the facilitators and meeting others who have had similar experiences. However, there were many complaints about glitches in the app and inappropriate behavior in peer-led group sessions.
Reviews from Apple App Store | 4.8 out of 5 stars | 3.4 reviews
Positive reviews Users were initially skeptical about Circles compared to their previous counseling, they felt uneasy about new techniques and groups. However, their love for learning kept them engaged. Over time, they adapted to Circles’ philosophy and found it valuable. Their overall wellness has greatly improved in this supportive environment.
Negative reviews Users find the app’s concept appealing but feel it doesn’t meet their expectations given the $15-$30 monthly fee. Many groups are led by peers or non-professionals, leading to a lack of structure and boundaries. They’ve encountered flawed advice based on personal or religious beliefs rather than professional expertise. Although cheaper than therapy, they believe free platforms offer similar support without the risk of unqualified advice.
Reviews from Google Play Store | 4.3 out of 5 stars | 367 reviews
Positive reviews say support from professionally facilitated groups is excellent, outweighing minor app glitches. The app complements their therapy with great skill-building and discussions, and recent features like private progress groups are a plus. They appreciate the flexibility and variety of subjects, and are exploring options to suggest more topics. Overall, they’re grateful for this helpful resource.
Negative reviews say they experienced poor customer service while trying to cancel and obtain a refund. After days of receiving incomplete answers and being repeatedly redirected without resolution, the issue was eventually resolved, but the process was frustratingly inefficient. They advise avoiding the app if clear and direct customer support is needed.
Who May Want an Alternative to Circles?
Circles offers some impressive group support services, but it’s not for everyone. Those who have non-relationship issues, prefer to have live video sessions, and anyone who wants a more personalized group matching approach will need to find an alternative.
You Want Live Video Sessions
All of Circles meetings are audio only. I personally found the audio to be sufficient for my meetings, but others may want a visual component for their online support groups. Being able to see members, make eye contact, and see facial expressions can add a lot of value to a group session. If you’d like to have video meetings instead, you may want to check out Grouport, which provides video.
You Prefer a More Personalized Experience
I was surprised to see how limited Circles’ onboarding process was. You basically just choose an area where you need support. There weren’t any questions regarding my age, gender, or lifestyle. If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, you may want to look at Grouport. They include a free consultation to help you find the right support group for you.
You require individual therapy with a licensed provider.
When it comes to providing an avenue for folks to receive emotional support from their peers, and occasionally more information from mental health experts, Circles has you covered; however, if you want or require individual therapy with a licensed provider in addition to emotional support/group therapy, opt for Grouport.
Circles Review – Our Final Verdict
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between Group Therapy and Support Groups?
Group therapy sessions are run by licensed mental health providers who aim to provide solutions, tools, or treatment for mental health conditions in a group setting. A support group’s goal is to provide comfort and help those experiencing similar situations learn to cope.
Can You Remain Anonymous on the Circles App?
Yes, you can use a nickname or a different name when you register, and you don’t have to share your real name when participating in a group session. Additionally, all meetings are audio-only, meaning you don’t have to show your face.
Who Are the Moderators?
Circles facilitators are highly qualified social workers, psychologists, or therapists. They go through a rigorous vetting and training process to ensure that their approach and caregiving techniques meet Circles’ standards.
Is the Circles App Legit?
Yes, I used the app and can confirm that it’s a legitimate company providing online support group services.
Does Circles Have an Age Limit?
You must be 18 or older to use the Circles app.
How Do I Cancel My Circles App Subscription?
You can cancel your Circles app subscription at any time by going to your phone’s app settings and choosing ‘Cancel Subscription.’
Does Circles Offer Refunds?
Circles will offer refunds in certain circumstances. Please visit Circles App Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information on refunds and cancellation policies.
History & News About Circles
The Circles app was launched in 2020 by CEO Irad Eichler and CRO Dan Landa. Eichler told CTECH in 2022, “There’s something truly incredible that happens when people who are coping with similar challenges get together – and the better the match, the more powerful the group experience.” Since its start, Circles has gradually gained significant funding for expansion and is now a strong player in the mental health tech market.1
Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
-
Calcalist Tech. (2023, July 19). Israel’s Mobileye to Go Public in U.S. via SPAC Merger. Retrieved from https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjypb85w5
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Randi Sprintis, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated services to reflect relationship focus
Author: Randi Sprintis, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added article summary block, reformatted star rating breakdown, added “Why You Can Trust My Review” section. Cost update throughout.
Author: Randi Sprintis, MS
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
Your Voice Matters
Leave your own reviews!
Have you used an online therapy company? Have you tried an online psychiatry service? Do you use a meditation or mindfulness app? We’d love to hear about your experience!
We want to hear about the companies you love and the companies you wish you never used.
Leave your feedback for our editors.
Share your feedback on this article with ChoosingTherapy.com’s editors. If there’s something we missed or something we could improve on, we’d love to hear it.
Our writers and editors love compliments, too. :)