Element Classic vs IceWarp IceChat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Element Classic
This app is a legacy version of a communication platform, offering secure messaging and collaboration. It will receive security updates until the end of 2025 but no new features.
- Secure messaging
- Collaboration
- Legacy version
- Security updates
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Element Classic is the previous-generation of Element mobile app. Friends, family and communities should use the free and open source Element X app which is faster, easier to use, and more powerful. New users of public sector organisations, enterprises and professional teams users should use the Element Pro app that is built for work and organizations. Element Classic is available at least until the end of 2025 and will receive critical security updates but no further enhancements or new features.
IceWarp IceChat
A professional messenger for business collaboration, enabling colleagues to stay connected on the go. Features include real-time presence, private messaging, media and location sharing, and enhanced security with TouchID integration. Seamlessly syncs chat history with the web client for continuity across devices.
- Real-time colleague presence
- Private messaging and group chats
- Media and location sharing
- TouchID security and chat locking
- Split-screen multitasking view
- Cross-device chat history sync
- Giphy integration
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IceChat is a professional mobile messanger for the IceWarp business email and collaboration suite. Through the app you can stay in touch with your colleagues when travelling, see their online presence and privately talk to each other, share media, documents and GPS location. Strong Data Privacy and TouchID integration Upon the first use, provide login information to IceWarp WebClient. The app will retrieve company contact list, user photos, and corporate appearance presets. No passwords or data are submitted to any external provider. By default, all connections and data are encrypted. For added security, you can protect the app with TouchID, or lock sensitive chats. Multitasking View for Single Finger operation Turning your device to landscape enables split-screen conversation view that puts focus on conversations and greatly simplifies chatting with two and more people at once. The minimalistic switcher lets you quickly jump between unlimited open conversations. Chat History Often you need to switch between the mobile IceChat and the web-based private chat. The app will sync older messages with WebClient so you can always continue where you left off and keep a meaningful history on all devices. Features • Easy setup by AutoDiscover • Notifications with swiping actions • Lock the app with TouchID • Share media • Share location • Emoji • Giphy integration • Night mode NOTE: This app is provided as an alternative to Google Hangouts and Microsoft Lync and is not compatible with these services.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Element Classic at 578 against IceWarp IceChat's 3. Element Classic also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and rating (3.3 vs 3.0). IceWarp IceChat's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, 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.
Element Classic holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Classic has 578 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Element Classic's written reviews are positive against 50% of IceWarp IceChat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Element Classic ships an update monthly, IceWarp IceChat every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Element Classic | IceWarp IceChat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (578 ratings) — better | 3.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.7% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 578 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vector Creations Limited | IceWarp Ltd. |
Customer experience
Element Classic
IceWarp IceChat
Bugs and requests
Element Classic
Reported bugs
5 issues- Constant crashes and freezes
- Issues with message decryption and verification
- Unreliable notifications and sync issues
- Inability to leave or delete empty rooms
- Problems with image and video sharing
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to pause notifications
- Option to set messages to disappear after a certain time
- Improved search functionality
- Better integration with other apps and services
- Customizable font size and notification sounds
IceWarp IceChat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Element Classic
No in-app purchases
IceWarp IceChat
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Element Classic free?
Is IceWarp IceChat free?
Which has better reviews, Element Classic or IceWarp IceChat?
Do Element Classic or IceWarp IceChat have ads?
Which is updated more often, Element Classic or IceWarp IceChat?
Other comparisons
