Olvid vs Synod.im
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Olvid
This private messaging app prioritizes user control and security. It does not require personal data, push contacts, or allow unsolicited messages. Enjoy secure, end-to-end encrypted conversations with guaranteed privacy.
- No personal data required
- User-controlled contacts
- No unsolicited messages
- End-to-end encryption
- End-to-end authentication
- Group creation
- No spam or advertising
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Olvid is the first private instant messaging application for everyone. What is a "private" messenger? It's a messenger: - That does not push new contacts on you. You are in control: you choose who you want to discuss with. Olvid offers several ways to invite other Olvid users, either face-to-face or remotely. - That does not require any personal data. Olvid won't ask for your phone number, for your email. Unlike your previous messenger, Olvid will never request access to your address book. - On which you will never receive unsolicited messages or messages from an unknown source. - Where all exchanges benefit from the same security and privacy as a real-world discussion behind closed doors. Olvid offers end-to-end encryption and end-to-end authentication by default, always, for everything you send or receive. Olvid guarantees you safe spaces, immune to external aggression, which isolate you from the digital noise and violence of other social networks. Create groups with your family, friends and key collaborators. No spam, no advertising. You finally regain full control over your communications. Olvid has been designed to be the best place to exchange on subjects that matter, with those who matter to you. Olvid - Technology ------------------ At the heart of Olvid, a 'cryptographic engine' coming from several years of research allows to mathematically prove the authenticity, the integrity, and the confidentiality of your communications.
Synod.im
This app allows participation in a federated messaging system, offering a Matrix-compatible messenger. It connects to a default server but supports others, serving as a fork of a popular iOS client.
- Matrix-compatible messaging
- Federated system participation
- Customizable homeserver
- Fork of Element iOS
- Decentralized communication
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Synod.im ist ein Matrix-kompatibler Messenger des LUKi e.V., mit dem du am föderierten Matrix-System teilnehmen kannst. Standardmäßig ist der Matrix-Server auf synod.im eingestellt, andere Homeserver sind möglich. Dies ist ein friendly fork von Element iOS.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Synod.im at none against Olvid's 4. Synod.im also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). Olvid's advantage is ratings volume (42 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. Olvid sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Synod.im asks for nothing beyond the download.
Synod.im holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Olvid has 42 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Olvid's written reviews are positive against 100% of Synod.im's.
Olvid ships an update every 6 weeks, Synod.im every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Olvid | Synod.im |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (42 ratings) | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 157 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Olvid | Christoph Settgast |
Customer experience
Olvid
Synod.im
In-app purchases
Olvid
- Individual$4.491 Month
- Family$5.991 Month
- Individual$44.901 Year
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- Family$59.901 Year
Synod.im
No in-app purchases








