Comparison

Keybase vs SimpleX Chat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Keybase

Securely message anyone on social media or other platforms without needing their personal contact information. All communications are end-to-end encrypted and accessible across multiple devices. This open-source platform is free and ad-free for all users.

Highlights
  • Secure messaging to social media users
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Multi-device support
  • Open source
  • Ad-free
Features
Read full description

Keybase is a messaging platform where: • you can write securely to any twitter, reddit, facebook, github, and hacker news user • you don't need to know someone's phone number or email address • all messages are secure, end-to-end encrypted • multi-device: your messages survive and transfer with encryption to new phones & computers Keybase is so much more. It is: • free for everyone, and free of ads • open source (https://github.com/keybase/client) • multi-platform, w/apps for macOS, Linux, and Windows (https://keybase.io/download) By using the Keybase app you agree to the following terms: • you'll be a nice Internet person Keybase for mobile is brand new and we yearn for feedback. Inside the app, click the gear icon and then choose "feedback" to send us a summary of your experience.

About

SimpleX Chat

This secure messaging app offers unparalleled privacy by eliminating user identifiers. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and files with features like disappearing messages and incognito mode. Connect via invitation links without needing phone numbers or emails.

Highlights
  • No user identifiers
  • End-to-end encrypted messages
  • Disappearing messages
  • Incognito mode
  • Encrypted file and voice messages
  • Secret chat groups
  • Encrypted portable chat database
Features
Read full description

SimpleX - the first messaging network without user identifiers of any kind (not even random numbers) - 100% private by design! Security assessments by Trail of Bits: 2022: https://simplex.chat/blog/20221108-simplex-chat-v4.2-security-audit-new-website.html 2024: https://simplex.chat/blog/20241014-simplex-network-v6-1-security-review-better-calls-user-experience.html SimpleX Chat features: - quantum resistant end-to-end encrypted messages, with editing, replies and deletion. - disappearing messages with opt-out per contact/group. - message reactions. - delivery receipts, with opt-out per contact or group. - multiple chat profiles, with hidden profiles. - app access and self-destruct passcodes. - incognito mode - unique to SimpleX Chat. - end-to-end encrypted images and files. - voice messages up to 5 minutes – also end-to-end encrypted. - "live" messages – they update for all recipients as you type them, every few seconds - unique to SimpleX Chat. - connect via one-time invitation links or via long-term public addresses. - secret chat groups - only group members know the group exists and who is the member. - end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls. - connection security code verification, for contacts and group members – to protect from man-in-the-middle attacks (e.g. invitation link substitution). - end-to-end encrypted push notifications (they contain only encrypted meta-data, not the actual content). - encrypted portable chat database - you can transfer your chat contacts and history to another device. - all local files and media are encrypted by default. - animated images and "stickers" (e.g., from GIF and PNG files and from 3rd party keyboards). SimpleX Chat advantages: - privacy of your identity, profile, contacts and metadata: unlike any other existing messaging platform, SimpleX uses no phone numbers or any other identifiers assigned to the users - not even random numbers. This protects the privacy of who you are communicating with, hiding it from SimpleX platform servers and from any observers. - complete protection against spam and abuse: as you have no identifier on SimpleX platform, you cannot be contacted unless you share a one-time invitation link or an optional temporary user address. - full ownership, control and security of your data: SimpleX stores all user data on client devices, the messages are only held temporarily on SimpleX relay servers until they are received. - decentralized proxied peer-to-peer network: you can use SimpleX Chat via your own relay servers and still communicate with people using pre-configured or any other SimpleX relay servers. - fully open-source code. You can connect to anybody you know via link or scan QR code (in the video call or in person) and start sending messages instantly - no emails, phone numbers or passwords needed. Your profile and contacts are only stored in the app on your device - relay servers do not have access to this information. All messages are end-to-end encrypted using open-source quantum resistant double-ratchet protocol; the messages are delivered via relay servers using open-source SimpleX Messaging Protocol. Please send us any questions via the app (connect to the team via the app settings!), email chat@simplex.chat or submit issues on GitHub (https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/issues) Ream more about SimpleX Chat at https://simplex.chat Get source code in our GitHub repo: https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat Follow us on X/Twitter (@SimpleXChat), Reddit (r/SimpleXChat/) and Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@simplex) for the latest updates.

Screenshots

Keybase4 screens
SimpleX Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SimpleX Chat at 4.3 against Keybase's 3.5. SimpleX Chat also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (56% vs 42%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 323 and 268 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Keybase's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Keybase ships an update every 3 months, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Keybase versus SimpleX Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKeybaseSimpleX Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (323 ratings)4.3 (268 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.5% of reviews56.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings323 — better268
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#206 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB193 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperKeybase, Inc.SimpleX Chat

Customer experience

Keybase

All ratings320 ratings
Positive59.1%
Neutral8.4%
Negative32.5%
Written reviews106 reviews
Positive42.5%
Neutral12.3%
Negative45.3%

SimpleX Chat

All ratings268 ratings
Positive79.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative14.9%
Written reviews210 reviews
Positive56.2%
Neutral14.8%
Negative29.0%

User reviews

Keybase

From 323 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure communication
  • 👍 Useful features like cloud storage and git repos
  • 💡 Innovative crypto integration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Lack of iPad support
  • 👎 Sluggish performance

SimpleX Chat

From 268 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 End-to-end encryption and quantum-resistant security
  • 🔐 No phone number or personal data required
  • 👤 Anonymous profiles and multiple identities
  • 🚀 Fast message delivery when working properly
  • 🎯 Decentralized and open-source architecture

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
  • 📬 Delayed or missing notifications (20+ minutes common)
  • ⌨️ Keyboard issues on iOS (freezing, unresponsive)
  • 🔌 Poor connectivity and message delivery failures
  • 📱 iPad version not optimized

Bugs and requests

Keybase

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Messaging issues and lost chats
  • Unreliable file sharing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add iPad app support
  • Improve message threading and navigation
  • Integrate with more social platforms
  • Add password manager functionality

SimpleX Chat

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • App crashes on startup (v6.2 update)
  • Keyboard unresponsive on iOS 26
  • Messages not appearing until app is opened
  • Notifications not working despite correct settings
  • Chat freezing and lag on iPhone
Show 14 more
  • QR code scanning not working on iPad
  • Desktop-phone sync connection failures
  • Auto-delete messages interrupting voice recordings
  • Typing inserts extra characters
  • iOS 17 keyboard autofill interferes with typing
  • Chat object unresponsive but moveable (delete)
  • Backup restoration key confirmation fails if contact offline
  • Server switching not reflected in chats
  • Cannot change sending server for stuck messages
  • Connection errors when creating chat links
  • Video upload takes hours
  • Call notifications appearing in Russian
  • Random photo auto-attachment during typing
  • Unable to unsend or delete sent attachments

Requested features

14 requests
  • Read receipts option
  • Typing indicators
  • Bot maker feature like Telegram
  • Multiple image attachment with descriptions
  • Better emoji reaction selection
Show 9 more
  • Mac desktop app
  • Web app (PWA)
  • iPad optimization
  • Improved group discovery/search
  • Global self-destruct message settings
  • Pin photos in group welcome messages
  • Chinese input method support
  • Ringing tone during calls
  • Speakerphone launch option before call pickup

In-app purchases

None

Keybase

No in-app purchases

None

SimpleX Chat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Keybase free?
Keybase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SimpleX Chat free?
SimpleX Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Keybase or SimpleX Chat?
SimpleX Chat is rated higher. Keybase averages 3.5 out of 5 from 323 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 268 ratings.
Do Keybase or SimpleX Chat have ads?
Neither Keybase nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Keybase or SimpleX Chat?
Keybase ships an update every 3 months, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Keybase was updated on October 6, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 16, 2026.

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