Skred Messenger vs Session
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Skred Messenger
This secure messaging app offers private, peer-to-peer communication without requiring personal information. It enables encrypted exchanges of messages, images, videos, and calls, with messages disappearing from both devices upon deletion. Multiple identities can be generated for enhanced confidentiality.
- Peer-to-peer communication
- End-to-end encryption
- No email or phone number required
- Self-destructing messages
- Multiple identities
- Voice and video calls
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Skred is the first secure peer-to-peer instant messaging app - No need for an email address or phone number to use it. Skred is free, without subscription, without a provider, without a SIM card, and without leaving a trace. Skred is developed based on privacy-by-design and leverages the highest levels of authorization encryption. Skred enables a private, unique and secure connection with each of your contacts. Only the two participants in a call can communicate with each other excluding anyone else. With an interface that is easy to use without impacting the learning experience, Skred enables easy exchange of messages, images, videos, voice calls and video calls. The SkredBoard, which is accessible by simply swiping down, allows for generating many identities that are separated from each other for absolute confidentiality. You can also use groups to exchange with several friends at once. When you delete a message on Skred, it also disappears from the mobile phone of your caller. All exchanges are encrypted from start to finish, from mobile to mobile. They are not stored on any server. The encryption technologies are open source and based on the work of hackers and hacktivists of the Guardian Project. Skred originated from the Skyrock Group, which in turn came from the free radio movement in France. It defends freedom of expression on the air and on the internet. With Skred, you are free! Terms of Use: https://www.skred.app/terms-of-service/
Session
This secure messenger prioritizes your privacy with a decentralized network and end-to-end encryption. It offers anonymous account creation, IP address protection, and private group chats without collecting any metadata. Share messages and files with confidence, knowing your communications are truly private.
- Anonymous account creation
- Decentralized server network
- No metadata logging
- IP address protection
- End-to-end encrypted group chats
- Secure file sharing
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Session is a new breed of private messenger, built on a unique network of user-operated servers spread all over the world. With no central servers, Session can’t leak or sell your data. And with Session’s private routing protocols, your messages are completely safe. No trackers, no leaks — send messages, not metadata. • Fully private account creation: No phone number or email needed to create an Account ID • Decentralized server network: No data breaches, no central point of failure • No metadata logging: Session doesn't store, track, or log your messaging metadata • IP address protection: Device IP addresses are never exposed to the person you're talking to or the servers holding your data • Closed groups: Private, end-to-end encrypted group chats for up to 100 people • Secure attachments: Share voice snippets, photos, and files with Session's secure encryption and privacy protections • Free and open-source: Don’t take our word for it — check Session's code yourself Session is free as in free speech and free as in free of ads and trackers. It is stewarded by the Session Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation dedicated to advancing digital rights and innovation. Take back your online privacy today — download Session. Want to build from source, report a bug, or just take a look at our code? Check out Session on GitHub: https://github.com/session-foundation/session-ios Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Session Terms of Service: https://getsession.org/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Session at 4.4 against Skred Messenger's 3.9. Session also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (5.3K vs 78). 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
Both are free to download. Skred Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Session sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Session holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 5.3K ratings behind it against 78, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Skred Messenger's written reviews are positive against 61% of Session's.
Skred Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, Session fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Skred Messenger | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (78 ratings) | 4.4 (5.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.6% of reviews | 61.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 78 | 5.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #98 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 90 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | SKRED | The Loki Project |
Customer experience
Skred Messenger
Session
Bugs and requests
Skred Messenger
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Session
Reported bugs
4 issues- Messages not syncing across devices
- Inability to join or view group chats
- Attachments and media not loading properly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
Requested features
5 requests- Add voice and video calling
- Implement self-destruct/ephemeral messaging
- Allow customization of chat backgrounds and themes
- Improve group chat functionality
- Add support for multiple accounts/identities
In-app purchases
Skred Messenger
- 1 month14 Days trial$2.491 Month
- 6 months14 Days trial$11.996 Months
- 12 months14 Days trial$20.491 Year
Session
- Session Pro$4.491 Month
- Session Pro$11.993 Months
- Session Pro$35.991 Year
Questions
Is Skred Messenger free?
Is Session free?
Which has better reviews, Skred Messenger or Session?
Do Skred Messenger or Session have ads?
Which is updated more often, Skred Messenger or Session?
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