# Messenger VPN vs Session

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Messenger VPN | Session |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger-vpn-private-chat/id1404922565/reviews)** | [4.4 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3.6K | **5.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 32.3% of reviews | **61.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#102** |
| Size | 420 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [VPN LLC US](https://appshunter.io/developer/1308745207) | [The Loki Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465686521) |

## What reviewers say

### Messenger VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger-vpn-private-chat/id1404922565)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $17.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $74.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Update to latest Telegram version
- Optimize for iPhone X
- Add more VPN locations


### Session

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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