# Skred Messenger vs SimpleX Chat

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Skred Messenger | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skred-messenger/id1201278426/reviews) | **[4.3 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 78 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 52.6% of reviews | **56.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 90 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [SKRED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1232873096) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### Skred Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skred-messenger/id1201278426)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month | $2.49 | per month |
| 6 months | $11.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 months | $20.49 | per year |


### SimpleX Chat

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

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 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*