Comparison

Messenger VPN vs Session

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

Head to head
About

Messenger VPN

Enhance your messaging experience with robust security and privacy. This app integrates a VPN service to encrypt your communications and protect your data while using familiar messaging features. Enjoy secure calls, texts, and media sharing with an added layer of anonymity.

Highlights
  • Enhanced messaging security
  • Integrated VPN service
  • Private texting and calling
  • Secure media sharing
  • Anonymity and IP hiding
  • Global server network access
Features
Read full description

Boost your Telegram chats with unparalleled security and speed using Messenger VPN. It is simple, secure, and provides total privacy. Messenger VPN reinvents how you connect on Telegram, combining it with a free VPN service to enhance your messaging security and speed. Enjoy familiar Telegram features – calling, texting, and sharing multimedia – with an added layer of anonymity and security. Activating the VPN secures your Telegram conversations and protects all your data. Powered and secured by Free VPN .org™, Messenger VPN ensures your online activities are encrypted and routed through a secure network, hiding your IP address and keeping your location private. With us, your communications are safe, allowing you to chat freely without worry. Benefits of using Messenger VPN: • Top-grade data privacy • Familiar Telegram interface, with secure calls, texts, and media sharing. • One-tap connection to a global network of servers. • A robust VPN service (free with ads) • Quick customer support With Messenger VPN, you're not just using Telegram but upgrading to a secure communication hub. Your favorite messaging app, now with added VPN protection. We're eager to hear from you! Reach out with suggestions and questions at support@open-vpn.org

About

Session

A private messenger focused on user data protection through a decentralized network. It offers secure, end-to-end encrypted communication without requiring personal information for account creation. Enjoy private group chats and secure file sharing with no ads or trackers.

Highlights
  • Fully private account creation
  • Decentralized server network
  • No metadata logging
  • IP address protection
  • End-to-end encrypted group chats
  • Secure attachments
Features
Read full description

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

Messenger VPN4 screens
Session4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Session at none against Messenger VPN's 3. Session also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (61% vs 32%). Messenger VPN's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Messenger VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Session asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Messenger VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.6K and 5.4K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of Messenger VPN's written reviews are positive against 61% of Session's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Messenger VPN ships an update every 5 months, Session fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Messenger VPN versus Session: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMessenger VPNSession
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (3.6K ratings) — better4.4 (5.4K ratings)
Positive reviews32.3% of reviews61.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.6K5.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#102 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size420 MB92 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperVPN LLC USThe Loki Project

Customer experience

Messenger VPN

All ratings3,648 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews164 reviews
Positive32.3%
Neutral9.8%
Negative57.9%

Session

All ratings5,406 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews1,246 reviews
Positive61.4%
Neutral12.0%
Negative26.6%

User reviews

Messenger VPN

From 3.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💕 Great interface
  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure communication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • ⚠️ Compatibility issues
  • 🔌 Connectivity problems

Session

From 5.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 Secure and private messaging
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive
  • 🔒 No phone number or personal data required
  • 💡 Innovative use of blockchain and Tor network

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable notifications and message delivery
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Slow media file transfers
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Limited features compared to competitors

Bugs and requests

Messenger VPN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App doesn't work after last update
  • Crashes when playing videos or accessing settings
  • VPN not working properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Update to latest Telegram version
  • Optimize for iPhone X
  • Add more VPN locations

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

3 purchases

Messenger VPN

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$17.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$74.991 Year
None

Session

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Messenger VPN free?
Messenger VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Session free?
Session is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Messenger VPN or Session?
Messenger VPN is rated higher. Messenger VPN averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Session averages 4.4 from 5.4K ratings.
Do Messenger VPN or Session have ads?
Neither Messenger VPN nor Session shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Messenger VPN or Session?
Messenger VPN ships an update every 5 months, and Session fortnightly. Most recently, Messenger VPN was updated on November 6, 2026 and Session on November 10, 2026.

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