Comparison

Threema OnPrem vs ZIØN

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

Head to head
About

Threema OnPrem

This secure messaging solution offers organizations complete data sovereignty by hosting on their own servers. It provides end-to-end encrypted communication for teams, including voice and video calls, and secure file sharing. The platform ensures confidentiality for sensitive government and industrial communications.

Highlights
  • Self-hosted for complete data sovereignty
  • End-to-end encrypted communication
  • Secure voice and video calls
  • Confidential team, group, and project chats
  • Secure file and document exchange
  • Cross-platform use (mobile, desktop, web)
Features
Read full description

Threema OnPrem is the self-hosted communication solution for organizations with the highest security requirements. The combination of Threema’s proven security architecture and complete data sovereignty creates an independent communication environment that is unmatched in terms of confidentiality – ideal for government agencies, police forces, and industrial companies. Advantages of Threema OnPrem: • 100% data sovereignty through hosting on your own servers • Proven Threema security architecture • Confidential communication in teams, groups, and projects • End-to-end encrypted voice and video calls • Secure exchange of files and documents in all formats • Cross-platform use thanks to mobile app, desktop app, and web client • Additional protection of confidential chats with PIN or fingerprint NOTE: Before you can use this app, Threema OnPrem must be set up on your company server. For more information, visit threema.com/onprem. Enjoy using Threema OnPrem!

About

ZIØN

Features
Read full description

ZIØN is a peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted messenger built on one principle: your conversations belong to you and your contact — no accounts, no cloud, no message database. HOW YOUR MESSAGES TRAVEL • On the same network, ZIØN connects your devices directly, device to device. Nothing leaves your local network. • Across different networks, messages are carried by a minimal relay we operate that only forwards already-encrypted bytes. It is zero-knowledge by design: it cannot read your messages, your contacts, or any content — and neither can we. • Optional WAN mode (OFF by default): when you enable it, ZIØN can also open a direct device-to-device connection across the internet via UDP hole punching. Only then does the app contact public IP-discovery services (ipify, ifconfig.me, icanhazip, checkip.amazonaws) to learn its own address for NAT traversal. There are no ZIØN accounts and no cloud storage of your messages. The relay never holds anything it can decrypt. STANDARD CRYPTO, ZERO CUSTOM • Curve25519 + ECDH key exchange • Forward Secrecy with per-session ephemeral keys • Authenticated AES-256-GCM message encryption • HMAC-SHA256 handshake authentication (anti-MITM) • 30-digit Signal-style safety numbers OPERATIONAL PRIVACY • Encrypted local storage • Excluded from iCloud backup • Self-destructing messages with configurable timer • Bidirectional message deletion • One-tap Emergency Wipe • Screenshot blocking, screen-recording detection • Session keys wiped from RAM on idle • Anonymous notifications: "New message" only, no sender or content LOCALIZED IN 6 LANGUAGES English, Italiano, Español, Français, Deutsch, 日本語 HONEST DISCLOSURE ZIØN is experimental software and has not undergone formal independent cryptographic audit. For communications where compromise would cause severe harm, use audited solutions like Signal. ZIØN is designed for users who want a second private channel between trusted devices. REQUIREMENTS iPhone 13 or later. iOS 17 or later. Face ID or Touch ID recommended.

Screenshots

Threema OnPrem4 screens
ZIØN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Threema OnPrem at every 10 days against ZIØN's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Threema OnPrem ships an update every 10 days, ZIØN every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Threema OnPrem versus ZIØN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThreema OnPremZIØN
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB2 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperThreema GmbHDaniele Taormina

In-app purchases

None

Threema OnPrem

No in-app purchases

None

ZIØN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Threema OnPrem free?
Threema OnPrem is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZIØN free?
ZIØN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Threema OnPrem or ZIØN have ads?
Neither Threema OnPrem nor ZIØN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Threema OnPrem or ZIØN?
Threema OnPrem ships an update every 10 days, and ZIØN every 6 weeks. Most recently, Threema OnPrem was updated on November 6, 2026 and ZIØN on October 31, 2026.

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