Comparison

Skred Messenger vs SimpleX Chat

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

SimpleX Chat

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
Read full description

SimpleX - the first messaging network without user identifiers of any kind (not even random numbers) - 100% private by design! Security assessments by Trail of Bits: 2022: https://simplex.chat/blog/20221108-simplex-chat-v4.2-security-audit-new-website.html 2024: https://simplex.chat/blog/20241014-simplex-network-v6-1-security-review-better-calls-user-experience.html SimpleX Chat features: - quantum resistant end-to-end encrypted messages, with editing, replies and deletion. - disappearing messages with opt-out per contact/group. - message reactions. - delivery receipts, with opt-out per contact or group. - multiple chat profiles, with hidden profiles. - app access and self-destruct passcodes. - incognito mode - unique to SimpleX Chat. - end-to-end encrypted images and files. - voice messages up to 5 minutes – also end-to-end encrypted. - "live" messages – they update for all recipients as you type them, every few seconds - unique to SimpleX Chat. - connect via one-time invitation links or via long-term public addresses. - secret chat groups - only group members know the group exists and who is the member. - end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls. - connection security code verification, for contacts and group members – to protect from man-in-the-middle attacks (e.g. invitation link substitution). - end-to-end encrypted push notifications (they contain only encrypted meta-data, not the actual content). - encrypted portable chat database - you can transfer your chat contacts and history to another device. - all local files and media are encrypted by default. - animated images and "stickers" (e.g., from GIF and PNG files and from 3rd party keyboards). SimpleX Chat advantages: - privacy of your identity, profile, contacts and metadata: unlike any other existing messaging platform, SimpleX uses no phone numbers or any other identifiers assigned to the users - not even random numbers. This protects the privacy of who you are communicating with, hiding it from SimpleX platform servers and from any observers. - complete protection against spam and abuse: as you have no identifier on SimpleX platform, you cannot be contacted unless you share a one-time invitation link or an optional temporary user address. - full ownership, control and security of your data: SimpleX stores all user data on client devices, the messages are only held temporarily on SimpleX relay servers until they are received. - decentralized proxied peer-to-peer network: you can use SimpleX Chat via your own relay servers and still communicate with people using pre-configured or any other SimpleX relay servers. - fully open-source code. You can connect to anybody you know via link or scan QR code (in the video call or in person) and start sending messages instantly - no emails, phone numbers or passwords needed. Your profile and contacts are only stored in the app on your device - relay servers do not have access to this information. All messages are end-to-end encrypted using open-source quantum resistant double-ratchet protocol; the messages are delivered via relay servers using open-source SimpleX Messaging Protocol. Please send us any questions via the app (connect to the team via the app settings!), email chat@simplex.chat or submit issues on GitHub (https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/issues) Ream more about SimpleX Chat at https://simplex.chat Get source code in our GitHub repo: https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat Follow us on X/Twitter (@SimpleXChat), Reddit (r/SimpleXChat/) and Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@simplex) for the latest updates.

Screenshots

Skred Messenger4 screens
SimpleX Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SimpleX Chat at none against Skred Messenger's 3. SimpleX Chat also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (268 vs 78). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. SimpleX Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 78 and 268 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Skred Messenger's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Skred Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Skred Messenger versus SimpleX Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkred MessengerSimpleX Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (78 ratings)4.3 (268 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.6% of reviews56.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings78268 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB193 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSKREDSimpleX Chat

Customer experience

Skred Messenger

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

SimpleX Chat

All ratings268 ratings
Positive79.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative14.9%
Written reviews210 reviews
Positive56.2%
Neutral14.8%
Negative29.0%

Bugs and requests

Skred Messenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SimpleX Chat

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • 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
Show 14 more
  • QR code scanning not working on iPad
  • Desktop-phone sync connection failures
  • Auto-delete messages interrupting voice recordings
  • Typing inserts extra characters
  • iOS 17 keyboard autofill interferes with typing
  • Chat object unresponsive but moveable (delete)
  • Backup restoration key confirmation fails if contact offline
  • Server switching not reflected in chats
  • Cannot change sending server for stuck messages
  • Connection errors when creating chat links
  • Video upload takes hours
  • Call notifications appearing in Russian
  • Random photo auto-attachment during typing
  • Unable to unsend or delete sent attachments

Requested features

14 requests
  • Read receipts option
  • Typing indicators
  • Bot maker feature like Telegram
  • Multiple image attachment with descriptions
  • Better emoji reaction selection
Show 9 more
  • Mac desktop app
  • Web app (PWA)
  • iPad optimization
  • Improved group discovery/search
  • Global self-destruct message settings
  • Pin photos in group welcome messages
  • Chinese input method support
  • Ringing tone during calls
  • Speakerphone launch option before call pickup

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

SimpleX Chat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Skred Messenger free?
Skred 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, Skred Messenger or SimpleX Chat?
SimpleX Chat is rated higher. Skred Messenger averages 3.9 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 268 ratings.
Do Skred Messenger or SimpleX Chat have ads?
Neither Skred Messenger nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Skred Messenger or SimpleX Chat?
Skred Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Skred Messenger was updated on October 15, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 16, 2026.

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