Circular alternatives
TL;DR: 12 companies doing similar work to Circular in Consumer, ranked by how closely they match what Circular actually does — not just by category.
How this list was built: every company here is Y Combinator-backed and shares at least one category with Circular. They are scored on how closely their own description overlaps with Circular's, and all facts shown come from the YC company records — nothing is estimated.
What are the best alternatives to Circular?
| Alternative | What it does | Batch | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Media Labs | — | Winter 2010 | — | Inactive |
| Lumoid | We are a try before you buy service for consumer electronics. | Summer 2013 | 11 | Acquired |
| Visual One | AI for security cameras | Winter 2020 | 4 | Inactive |
| Simmery | — | Summer 2005 | — | Inactive |
| Coco Controller | We're building a tactile gaming controller for mobile phones. | Summer 2012 | — | Inactive |
| Tuesday Labs | Delightful robots | Winter 2024 | 7 | Active |
| ZowPow | Wireless toy game controllers for mobile games. | Winter 2014 | 2 | Inactive |
| Quell | Get fit fighting your way through a fantasy world. | Summer 2020 | 40 | Acquired |
| Silver | Low cost consumer device for toxin detection. | Winter 2016 | — | Inactive |
| Upgraded | Upgraded helps retailers and carriers sell devices on subscription. | Summer 2016 | 13 | Active |
| LVL6 | We make mobile MMOs. | Winter 2012 | 2 | Inactive |
| Koduco | iPad games. | Summer 2010 | 2 | Inactive |
Is Circular still active?
Circular is still operating, so switching is a choice rather than a forced migration. Compare on fit and price rather than urgency.
How was this list put together?
Every company here is Y Combinator-backed and shares at least one category with Circular. They are then ranked on how closely their own description overlaps with Circular's, so the closest matches come first rather than whoever happens to share a tag.