Gleam: Social Intelligence

• Free to download
• In-app purchases

Last verified 31 Jul 2026

4.8 8582 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5An app beyond self-improvement

   I came across this app through social media but I stayed for the impact. To start, app design is aesthetic and usage has been smooth. However, the main attraction for me has been the lessons. They’re very effective when I apply it to my personal life. Beyond just broadening my perspective, I’m able to apply lessons into my person life so I can conquer my social anxiety. Although I still have long ways to go, what this app has done so far is amazing!

   orangechickenreviews · 31 Jul 2026

2. 5/5My Social Anxiety has Improved So Much

   The way I’d describe my social anxiety— it’s like test anxiety where you are so nervous you forget all of the answers, except it’s every time I have a social interaction outside of immediate family and I completely forget all of the words I know. I have panic attacks leaving the house even just going to the grocery store. I avoid leaving the house altogether for the most part. It’s like I’m stuck and I just can’t get myself out. I tried everything! Counseling, books, alternative therapies, medication, herbs etc. Some helped a little bit, most did not but this app made the most improvement by far! Now I know the mechanics of my social anxiety. Ive stoped avoiding situations that scare me as much. I’ve started to leave my house a lot more often. I’ve started to say more in conversations with strangers— sometimes I don’t even think about it. My brain doesn’t blank out as much when it comes to conversing. I still have a long way to go but I wanted to say thank you to the people who made this app. It’s changed my life.

   fruit snacks 😂👌 · 31 Jul 2026

3. 1/5$70 to tell you to “force a genuine smile”

   I don’t know why reviews don’t just start with “it is $70” Duolingo for being manipulative, basically. How am I to “force” a “genuine” smile? Here’s the advice in a nutshell: smile, act happy, don’t think bad things, don’t criticize people or be negative in front of them, say appreciative things. It’s the vibe-coded app version of Dale Carnegie’s book. Has formatting issues. Typos. I also would argue some of the advice given is genuinely poor and dated. The barista Chloe does not want you to address her by name because you read her nametag. Only “ownership” class people think that way. Hourly service workers generally find it invasive when customers speak with intense familiarity immediately. This is crackpot stuff designed to trick lonely or dysfunctional people into losing $70. I also really enjoyed all the reminders in the lessons that other people don’t care about you, don’t want to hear what you have to say, don’t care if they hurt you and you couldn’t even try to tell them because others will not listen as they are inherently selfish. The advice is geared towards middle management types trying to get ahead in careers where promotion is based on social engineering. It’s not going to teach you how to build up real friends or relationships, just how to have dinner with other vacuous soul-suckers in the never ending pursuit of money. Don’t believe me? Just wait till you get to the lesson about the CEO and his million dollar check! 🤮 The “ai” aspect lets you write completely insane responses and accepts them as valid. It accepted “what is your favorite oat to grow” as an ice breaking question.

   ksmsktkt · 31 Jul 2026

4. 2/5Frustrating paywall before you can even try it

   I was really excited to try Gleam after hearing good things, but the sign-up process immediately killed my interest. Right from the start, it pushes you to subscribe before you’ve seen anything meaningful in the app. Yes, they offer a free trial, but it still requires entering payment info and enabling a recurring subscription that I’d have to remember to cancel. I get that developers need to make money, but this approach feels like a money grab. If you truly believe in your product and want people to fall in love with it, why not let users explore the core features freely first—without tying anything to a recurring billing cycle? Removing that pressure would make a huge difference. I know I would have happily signed up and given it a real shot if I could try it risk-free without the subscription commitment looming. As it stands, I closed the app and deleted it without ever getting past the sign-up screen. Disappointing.

   Bronco8455 · 31 Jul 2026

5. 3/5It was good.

   I actually was really liking this app before they had an updated and changed the whole layout. Before it felt really straight forward, it didn’t feel cheesy, the app was easy to navigate, but now it all feels very childish and the lessons don’t fell as helpful. Also, since the update there have been some glitches and problems with the interactive parts. Like sometimes with the drag and drop activities, I can’t see the entire prompt and because of that I tend to get things wrong. Anyway, I ended up deleting this app because I wasn’t enjoying the update.

   father of all fathers · 31 Jul 2026

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