# Keybase vs Element X

The clearest difference is update cadence: Element X at fortnightly against Keybase's every 3 months. Keybase's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.5). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.5 for Keybase against 3.4 for Element X. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 323 and 169 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 42% of Keybase's written reviews are positive against 39% of Element X's.

Keybase ships an update every 3 months, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Keybase | Element X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (323 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keybase-crypto-for-everyone/id1044461770/reviews)** | [3.4 (169 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **323** | 169 |
| Positive reviews | **42.5% of reviews** | 38.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 127 MB | 341 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Keybase, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1044460764) | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) |

## What reviewers say

### Keybase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keybase-crypto-for-everyone/id1044461770)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Element X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820)

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging, Video calls, Public and private rooms, Rich messaging features, Cross-device synchronization, Data ownership and server choice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Keybase free?

Keybase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Element X free?

Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Keybase or Element X?

Keybase is rated higher. Keybase averages 3.5 out of 5 from 323 ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 169 ratings.

### Do Keybase or Element X have ads?

Neither Keybase nor Element X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Keybase or Element X?

Keybase ships an update every 3 months, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, Keybase was updated on November 2, 2026 and Element X on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*