BrightChat vs Hola
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BrightChat
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.
- End-to-end encrypted messages
- Encrypted audio and video calls
- Schedule messages
- Disappearing messages
- Group chats
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BrightChat is a free, simple, and trusted messenger that connects anyone anywhere. Secure calls and messages based on state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption technology. Privacy and security are the core of our values. Respect for your privacy and protection of your data are our top priority. Every private message and call is secured by end-to-end encryption so that no one, including us, can read your messages or listen to your conversations except yourself and the intended recipients. Main features: * Secure messages with end-to-end encryption End-to-end encrypted messaging to give you peace of mind about your data security. * Encrypted real-time audio and video calls Crystal-clear audio & video let you hear your friends or family as if they were right there with you. * Scheduling messages Compose your messages ahead of time and choose when they get sent. You can send messages in advance, like friend's birthdays, or even schedule to send messages at midnight so that your friends can receive them in the morning. * Disappearing messages Set a timer that automatically deletes your messages after a certain interval. * Group Chats Use group chats to stay connected with friends and family.
Hola
Connect with loved ones globally through simple and enjoyable text, image, video, GIF, audio, and document sharing. This free application facilitates seamless communication across distances.
- Text Chat
- Image Sharing
- Video Sharing
- GIF Sharing
- Audio Messaging
- Document Exchange
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Discover a new way to connect with your loved ones worldwide with Hola! Our app is designed with state-of-the-art technology to make chatting simple and enjoyable. Here are some of the exciting features you can enjoy: Text Chat: Stay in touch through text messages, whether you're across the street or across the globe. Exchange Images: Share your favorite moments with friends and family by exchanging images effortlessly. Exchange Videos: Send and receive videos to share special moments or just say hello in a more personal way. Exchange GIFs: Express yourself with animated GIFs to add a touch of fun to your conversations. Exchange Audio: Share audio messages to convey your thoughts and feelings with clarity. Record Audio: Easily record and send audio messages to make your conversations more dynamic. Exchange Documents: Share documents like PDFs, Excel sheets, Word documents, and text files to collaborate or exchange information seamlessly. Hola is completely free to use, so you can enjoy all these features without any cost. Download Hola today and start chatting with your friends and family in a whole new way!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrightChat at 75% against Hola's 0%. BrightChat also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and ratings volume (190 vs 11). On price, update cadence, 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
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 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrightChat has 190 ratings behind it against 11, 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 0% of Hola's.
BrightChat ships an update every 3 weeks, Hola fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | BrightChat | Hola |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (190 ratings) — better | 2.8 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 190 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 98 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ShenXun Inc | 3Embed Software Technology Pvt. Ltd. |
Customer experience
BrightChat
Hola
Bugs and requests
BrightChat
Reported bugs
15 issues- 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
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Bug where @ tagging in group chats doesn't work on iPhone
- Impossible to add members after last update
- No landscape mode on iPad
- Unable to connect using mobile data since version 1.20.37
- Computer version login issues (password reset needed)
- Contact disappeared on computer version
- Words with 'pp' cannot be sent
- Notifications received but app doesn't open or show information
- All connections gone after upgrading
- Cannot log in on iPhone after latest update (no next step after password)
Requested features
13 requests- 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
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Add zoom functionality for messages/attachments
- Implement a simple poll feature in group chats
- Create a 'note to self' section
- Add ability to draw in messages
- Add possibility to directly respond to messages
- Add night mode/different color themes
- Add password login option for computer version
- Allow editing sent text (contradicts other reviews)
Hola
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BrightChat
No in-app purchases
Hola
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BrightChat free?
Is Hola free?
Which has better reviews, BrightChat or Hola?
Do BrightChat or Hola have ads?
Which is updated more often, BrightChat or Hola?
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