# Siskin IM vs Igloo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Siskin IM at none against Igloo's 5. Igloo's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (119 vs 33). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Siskin IM asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for Siskin IM against 3.7 for Igloo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 119 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of Siskin IM's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

Siskin IM ships an update every 2 months, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Siskin IM | Igloo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/siskin-im/id1153516838/reviews)** | [3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **119** |
| Positive reviews | **46.4% of reviews** | 43.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tigase, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153516837) | [Eskimo Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037652122) |

## What reviewers say

### Siskin IM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/siskin-im/id1153516838)

A powerful and lightweight XMPP client for seamless communication. Manage multiple accounts, access chat history, and enjoy features like push notifications and file sharing. Ideal for both new and experienced XMPP users.

**Highlights:** Multi-account management, Message archive access, Chatroom support, Automated status management, In-band account registration, Push notifications, File sharing, VoIP calls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Igloo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560)

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

**Highlights:** Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers, Redesigned user interface with themes, Optimized for bouncers (ZNC), Comprehensive network support, SSL/TLS encryption, Inline media viewing, VoiceOver accessibility

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly License | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly License | $7.99 | per year |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime License (Upgrade) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
- 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
- 💬 Active developer with responsive support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
- 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
- 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
- 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
- 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

**Reported bugs**

- App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
- Theme selection not persisting between app launches
- User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
- Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
- Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive

**Requested features**

- Restore /ignore command for blocking users
- IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
- DCC file transfer support
- Ability to hide/disable Slap function
- Color customization for usernames


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Siskin IM free?

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

### Is Igloo free?

Igloo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Siskin IM or Igloo?

Siskin IM is rated higher. Siskin IM averages 3.7 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

### Do Siskin IM or Igloo have ads?

Neither Siskin IM nor Igloo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Siskin IM or Igloo?

Siskin IM ships an update every 2 months, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Siskin IM was updated on September 21, 2026 and Igloo on September 9, 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.*