# Keybase vs Primal

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Primal at 87% against Keybase's 42%. Primal also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Keybase's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Primal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Keybase asks for nothing beyond the download.

Primal holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 323 and 928 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Keybase's written reviews are positive against 87% of Primal's.

Keybase ships an update every 3 months, Primal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Keybase | Primal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (323 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keybase-crypto-for-everyone/id1044461770/reviews) | **[4.9 (928 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/primal/id1673134518/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 323 | **928** |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | **87.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 127 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Keybase, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1044460764) | [Primal Systems Incorporated.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673134521) |

## 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


### Primal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/primal/id1673134518)

Experience a next-generation social media platform built on Nostr and Bitcoin. Enjoy rich media feeds, long-form articles, and integrated Bitcoin wallet functionality. Discover content easily and authorize other Nostr apps with remote login.

**Highlights:** Rich media feeds with playback, Built-in Bitcoin wallet, Long form articles, Extensive content discovery, Advanced search, Remote Login for Nostr apps, Configurable ambient sounds

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primal Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Primal Pro Monthly | $69.99 | per month |
| Primal Premium Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Primal Pro Yearly Subscription | $749.99 | per year |
| Prepaid Nostr Zaps | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 🔒 Secure and private social experience
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Seamless integration with Bitcoin Lightning Network
- 🤘 Empowering decentralized social media

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🇨🇦 Limited functionality for Canadian users
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search and discovery features
- 🔔 Inconsistent push notification support

**Reported bugs**

- Losing relay connections when switching to desktop
- Issues with account creation and sign-in process
- Inconsistent display of reactions from other Nostr apps

**Requested features**

- Add support for more Nostr reaction types
- Implement robust community/subreddit features
- Improve cache management and clearing options
- Provide better account management and sign-out options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Keybase free?

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

### Is Primal free?

Primal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Keybase or Primal?

Primal is rated higher. Keybase averages 3.5 out of 5 from 323 ratings, while Primal averages 4.9 from 928 ratings.

### Do Keybase or Primal have ads?

Neither Keybase nor Primal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Keybase or Primal?

Keybase ships an update every 3 months, and Primal every 2 weeks. Most recently, Keybase was updated on October 14, 2026 and Primal on October 15, 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.*