# BLE Messenger vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BLE Messenger at 100% against SimpleX Chat's 57%. BLE Messenger also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3). SimpleX Chat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (264 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BLE Messenger sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SimpleX Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

BLE Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 264 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of BLE Messenger's written reviews are positive against 57% of SimpleX Chat's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BLE Messenger | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-messenger/id1196831220/reviews)** | [4.3 (264 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **264** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 56.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#183** |
| Size | 11 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ohkubo Yuhei](https://appshunter.io/developer/1003046002) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### BLE Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-messenger/id1196831220)

Connect with nearby users without Wi-Fi or radio networks. Share photos, sound data, and messages securely with end-to-end encryption. Resume conversations and receive notifications even when the app is in the background.

**Highlights:** Connect without Wi-Fi or radio, Secure encrypted messaging, Share photos and sound data, Resume conversations, Background notifications, Delete sent messages

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Background color | $0.99 | one-time |


### SimpleX Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This secure messaging app offers unparalleled privacy by eliminating user identifiers. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and files with features like disappearing messages and incognito mode. Connect via invitation links without needing phone numbers or emails.

**Highlights:** No user identifiers, End-to-end encrypted messages, Disappearing messages, Incognito mode, Encrypted file and voice messages, Secret chat groups, Encrypted portable chat database

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 End-to-end encryption and quantum-resistant security
- 🔐 No phone number or personal data required
- 👤 Anonymous profiles and multiple identities
- 🚀 Fast message delivery when working properly
- 🎯 Decentralized and open-source architecture

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
- 📬 Delayed or missing notifications (20+ minutes common)
- ⌨️ Keyboard issues on iOS (freezing, unresponsive)
- 🔌 Poor connectivity and message delivery failures
- 📱 iPad version not optimized

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (v6.2 update)
- Keyboard unresponsive on iOS 26
- Messages not appearing until app is opened
- Notifications not working despite correct settings
- Chat freezing and lag on iPhone

**Requested features**

- Read receipts option
- Typing indicators
- Bot maker feature like Telegram
- Multiple image attachment with descriptions
- Better emoji reaction selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BLE Messenger free?

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

### Is SimpleX Chat free?

SimpleX Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BLE Messenger or SimpleX Chat?

BLE Messenger is rated higher. BLE Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 264 ratings.

### Do BLE Messenger or SimpleX Chat have ads?

Neither BLE Messenger nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BLE Messenger or SimpleX Chat?

BLE Messenger ships an update every 2 weeks, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, BLE Messenger was updated on June 2, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on September 29, 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.*