# Cyph vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is rating: SimpleX Chat at 4.3 against Cyph's 3.1. SimpleX Chat also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (56% vs 36%). Cyph's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cyph sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $68.99 per month. SimpleX Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 268 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Cyph's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

Cyph ships an update every 3 weeks, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cyph | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyph/id1422086509/reviews) | **[4.3 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 36.4% 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 | 162 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Cyph](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422086508) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### Cyph

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyph/id1422086509)

A secure messaging and social networking service focused on extreme privacy and ease of use. It offers advanced protection against man-in-the-middle attacks and future quantum computing threats.

**Highlights:** Cryptographically secure messaging, Extreme privacy, Man-in-the-middle attack mitigation, Quantum computing protection, Native apps and web access, Ease of use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platinum (Monthly) | $68.99 | per month |


### 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 Cyph free?

Cyph 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, Cyph or SimpleX Chat?

SimpleX Chat is rated higher. Cyph averages 3.1 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 268 ratings.

### Do Cyph or SimpleX Chat have ads?

Neither Cyph nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cyph or SimpleX Chat?

Cyph ships an update every 3 weeks, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Cyph was updated on October 4, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 19, 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.*