Comparison

WIRC vs Element X

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

Head to head
About

WIRC

This app integrates WebRTC and IRC technologies, allowing users to connect to chat servers and engage in voice calls with contacts. It provides tools for reporting and blocking disruptive users within chat channels.

Highlights
  • WebRTC and IRC integration
  • Connect to IRC chat servers
  • Voice call functionality
  • Report and block users
  • Channel operator notifications
Features
Read full description

WIRC is the first chat application that brings WebRTC and IRC technologies together. You can connect to and chat with IRC chat servers that are readily available or can be defined by the user himself. You can send an invitation to the person you are chatting with to call you. When your friend touches the call button, the call screen in your application will open and soon the voice call will start. Users who are bothering you can notify channel operators with a complaint button in chat options. Channel administrators will make the necessary warnings for these users. If you like, you can block these users by clicking the block button and you can stop to get a message from them again. Only voice call is available in this version of WIRC. In future versions, the video call feature will be added. To make a call, the client applications must be WIRC, otherwise the option will not be shown

About

Element X

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This open-source app built on the Matrix protocol allows you to own your data and choose where to host it, offering features like public and private rooms, rich messaging, and cross-device synchronization.

Highlights
  • Real-time messaging and video calls
  • Public and private group communication
  • Rich messaging features (reactions, polls)
  • Cross-device message synchronization
  • Data ownership and server choice
  • Interoperability with other Matrix apps
Features
Read full description

Freedom to communicate on your own terms For individuals and communities - private communication between family, friends, hobby groups, clubs, etc. Element X gives you fast, secure and private instant messaging and video calls built on Matrix, the open standard for real-time communication. This is a free and open-source app maintained at https://github.com/element-hq/element-x-ios Stay in touch with friends, family and communities with: • Real time messaging & video calls • Public rooms for open group communication • Private rooms for closed group communication • Rich messaging features: emoji reactions, replies, polls, pinned messages and more. • Video calling while browsing messages. • Interoperability with other Matrix-based apps such as FluffyChat, Cinny and many more. Privacy-first Unlike some other messengers from Big Tech companies, we don’t mine your data or monitor your communications. Own your conversations Choose where to host your data - from any public server (the largest free server is matrix.org, but there are plenty of others to choose from) to creating your own personal server and hosting it on your own domain. This ability to choose a server is a large part of what differentiates us from other real time communication apps. However you host, you have ownership; it’s your data. You’re not the product. You’re in control. Communicate in real time, all the time Use Element everywhere. Stay in touch wherever you are with fully synchronised message history across all your devices, including on the web at https://app.element.io Element X is our next-generation app If you’re using the previous-generation Element Classic app, it’s time to try Element X! It’s faster, easier to use, and more powerful than the classic app. It’s better in every way and we’re adding new features all the time.

Screenshots

WIRC4 screens
Element X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Element X at 3.4 against WIRC's 2.0. Element X also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 13%) and ratings volume (169 vs 4). WIRC's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.5). 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

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

Element X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 169 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of WIRC's written reviews are positive against 39% of Element X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
WIRC versus Element X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWIRCElement X
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (4 ratings)3.4 (169 ratings) — better
Positive reviews12.5% of reviews39.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4169 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB225 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperMaku TeknolojiVector Creations Limited

Customer experience

WIRC

All ratings4 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative62.5%

Element X

All ratings169 ratings
Positive57.4%
Neutral13.0%
Negative29.6%
Written reviews189 reviews
Positive39.2%
Neutral19.6%
Negative41.3%

In-app purchases

None

WIRC

No in-app purchases

None

Element X

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WIRC free?
WIRC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Element X free?
Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WIRC or Element X?
Element X is rated higher. WIRC averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 169 ratings.
Do WIRC or Element X have ads?
Neither WIRC nor Element X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WIRC or Element X?
WIRC ships an update fortnightly, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, WIRC was updated on November 2, 2026 and Element X on November 12, 2026.

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