# BrightChat vs Cipchat

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | BrightChat | Cipchat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (190 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightchat-messaging-and-call/id1082880824/reviews) | **[4.8 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipchat-encrypted-messenger/id1472339678/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **190** | 60 |
| Positive reviews | **75.4% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 98 MB | 205 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ShenXun Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1157647285) | [ZERO & ONE SOFTWARE PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1739607222) |

## 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


### Cipchat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipchat-encrypted-messenger/id1472339678)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


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