Comparison

Skred Messenger vs Synod.im

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Peer-to-peer communication
  • End-to-end encryption
  • No email or phone number required
  • Self-destructing messages
  • Multiple identities
  • Voice and video calls
Features
Read full description

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/

About

Synod.im

This app allows participation in a federated messaging system, offering a Matrix-compatible messenger. It connects to a default server but supports others, serving as a fork of a popular iOS client.

Highlights
  • Matrix-compatible messaging
  • Federated system participation
  • Customizable homeserver
  • Fork of Element iOS
  • Decentralized communication
Features
Read full description

Synod.im ist ein Matrix-kompatibler Messenger des LUKi e.V., mit dem du am föderierten Matrix-System teilnehmen kannst. Standardmäßig ist der Matrix-Server auf synod.im eingestellt, andere Homeserver sind möglich. Dies ist ein friendly fork von Element iOS.

Screenshots

Skred Messenger4 screens
Synod.im4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Synod.im at 100% against Skred Messenger's 53%. Synod.im also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Skred Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (78 vs 5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Skred Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Synod.im asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synod.im holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Skred Messenger has 78 ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of Synod.im's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Skred Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, Synod.im every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Skred Messenger versus Synod.im: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkred MessengerSynod.im
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (78 ratings)4.8 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings78 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB157 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSKREDChristoph Settgast

Customer experience

Skred Messenger

All ratings78 ratings
Positive70.5%
Neutral6.4%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews133 reviews
Positive52.6%
Neutral18.0%
Negative29.3%

Synod.im

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Skred Messenger

Subscriptions3
  • 1 month14 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • 6 months14 Days trial$11.996 Months
  • 12 months14 Days trial$20.491 Year
None

Synod.im

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Skred Messenger free?
Skred Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Synod.im free?
Synod.im is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Skred Messenger or Synod.im?
Synod.im is rated higher. Skred Messenger averages 3.9 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while Synod.im averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.
Do Skred Messenger or Synod.im have ads?
Neither Skred Messenger nor Synod.im shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Skred Messenger or Synod.im?
Skred Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, and Synod.im every 2 months. Most recently, Skred Messenger was updated on October 26, 2026 and Synod.im on October 1, 2026.

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