Comparison

BrightChat vs Cipchat

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messages
  • Encrypted audio and video calls
  • Schedule messages
  • Disappearing messages
  • Group chats
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Cipchat

This app provides secure messaging with end-to-end encryption and messages that disappear after being read. It also offers encrypted voice and video calls for private online communication.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Burn after reading messages
  • Encrypted voice calls
  • Encrypted video calls
  • Securely send text, pictures, GIF, audio, and video
Features
Read full description

【Features】 End-to-end encryption and burn after reading. Safely escort every message you have. 【Encrypted video call】 Encrypted voice and video calls, free online communication anytime, anywhere. 【Safe Communication】 Your personal information and address book have been encrypted end-to-end, only you and your friends can view it, and no third party can obtain it, and neither can Cipchat. 【Burn after reading】 The sent information is automatically eliminated after reading, so there is no need to worry about the content of the chat being leaked. 【Diversified Communication】 Send text, pictures, GIF, audio, and video in an end-to-end encrypted way for interactive communication, making chat safe everywhere.

Screenshots

BrightChat4 screens
Cipchat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrightChat at 75% against Cipchat's 20%. BrightChat also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (190 vs 60). Cipchat's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Cipchat holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 190 and 60 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of BrightChat's written reviews are positive against 20% of Cipchat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrightChat ships an update every 3 weeks, Cipchat every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
BrightChat versus Cipchat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrightChatCipchat
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (190 ratings)4.8 (60 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings190 — better60
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB205 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperShenXun IncZERO & ONE SOFTWARE PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

BrightChat

All ratings189 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral5.8%
Negative18.8%

Cipchat

All ratings48 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative40.0%

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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)

Cipchat

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BrightChat

No in-app purchases

None

Cipchat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrightChat free?
BrightChat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cipchat free?
Cipchat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrightChat or Cipchat?
Cipchat is rated higher. BrightChat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 190 ratings, while Cipchat averages 4.8 from 60 ratings.
Do BrightChat or Cipchat have ads?
Neither BrightChat nor Cipchat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrightChat or Cipchat?
BrightChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cipchat every 2 months. Most recently, BrightChat was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cipchat on October 24, 2026.

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