# BrightChat vs Chat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrightChat at 75% against Chat's 23%. BrightChat also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (190 vs 20). Chat's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

BrightChat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrightChat has 190 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of BrightChat's written reviews are positive against 23% of Chat's.

BrightChat ships an update every 3 weeks, Chat every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrightChat | Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (190 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightchat-messaging-and-call/id1082880824/reviews)** | [3.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-in/id1083597720/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **190** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **75.4% of reviews** | 23.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 98 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShenXun Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1157647285) | [KALE ILERI TEKNOLOJI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225949637) |

## What reviewers say

### BrightChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightchat-messaging-and-call/id1082880824)

This app provides secure and private communication through end-to-end encrypted messaging and calls. It offers features like scheduled and disappearing messages, as well as group chats for staying connected with loved ones.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messages, Encrypted audio and video calls, Schedule messages, Disappearing messages, Group chats

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure and private communication
- 👍 Easy to use and clean interface
- 🚀 Works smoothly for most users
- 💰 Free to use
- ✨ Gets better with updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable message sending/receiving
- ⏳ Long delays in message delivery
- ❌ Cannot receive verification codes
- 🚫 No option to unblock users
- 🐛 Bugs in group chat tagging

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot receive verification codes (UK, +262)
- Long delays in sending or receiving messages
- Messages do not send or receive for long periods
- Cannot unblock users
- Delete user option not working

**Requested features**

- Add parental controls (contact restrictions, website blocking)
- Make secure internet app with parental controls
- Make double checkmarks more visible
- Add landscape mode for iPad
- Allow viewing messages and attachments in landscape mode


### Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-in/id1083597720)

This secure messaging app connects you with friends and family globally using your phone's internet. It offers fast, end-to-end encrypted communication without subscriptions or ads. Easily access contacts and keep in touch, even with offline message storage.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Free messaging, No subscription required, Fast message delivery, Offline message storage, Profile photo upload

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrightChat free?

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

### Is Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BrightChat or Chat?

BrightChat is rated higher. BrightChat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 190 ratings, while Chat averages 3.5 from 20 ratings.

### Do BrightChat or Chat have ads?

Neither BrightChat nor Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrightChat or Chat?

BrightChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chat every 9 days. Most recently, BrightChat was updated on November 2, 2026 and Chat on November 2, 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.*