Comparison

Librem Chat vs SimpleX Chat

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

Head to head
About

Librem Chat

This app provides secure text, voice, and video communication with end-to-end encryption. Share images, videos, and files in chat rooms while keeping conversations private. It is free and open-source software.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Text chat rooms
  • Voice and video calls
  • Image, video, and file sharing
  • Free and open-source
Features
Read full description

* Chat rooms * Share images, videos, and files * Make voice and video calls * Keep your conversations secret with end-to-end encryption * Free and open-source software (FOSS)

About

SimpleX Chat

This secure messenger prioritizes privacy by eliminating user identifiers, offering end-to-end encrypted communication with features like disappearing messages and anonymous profiles. It provides a decentralized network and open-source code for enhanced user control and security.

Highlights
  • No user identifiers
  • End-to-end encrypted messages
  • Disappearing messages
  • Anonymous profiles
  • Decentralized network
  • Open-source code
  • Encrypted calls and files
Features
Read full description

SimpleX - the first messaging network without user identifiers of any kind (not even random numbers) - 100% private by design! Security assessments by Trail of Bits: 2022: https://simplex.chat/blog/20221108-simplex-chat-v4.2-security-audit-new-website.html 2024: https://simplex.chat/blog/20241014-simplex-network-v6-1-security-review-better-calls-user-experience.html SimpleX Chat features: - quantum resistant end-to-end encrypted messages, with editing, replies and deletion. - disappearing messages with opt-out per contact/group. - message reactions. - delivery receipts, with opt-out per contact or group. - multiple chat profiles, with hidden profiles. - app access and self-destruct passcodes. - incognito mode - unique to SimpleX Chat. - end-to-end encrypted images and files. - voice messages up to 5 minutes – also end-to-end encrypted. - "live" messages – they update for all recipients as you type them, every few seconds - unique to SimpleX Chat. - connect via one-time invitation links or via long-term public addresses. - secret chat groups - only group members know the group exists and who is the member. - end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls. - connection security code verification, for contacts and group members – to protect from man-in-the-middle attacks (e.g. invitation link substitution). - end-to-end encrypted push notifications (they contain only encrypted meta-data, not the actual content). - encrypted portable chat database - you can transfer your chat contacts and history to another device. - all local files and media are encrypted by default. - animated images and "stickers" (e.g., from GIF and PNG files and from 3rd party keyboards). SimpleX Chat advantages: - privacy of your identity, profile, contacts and metadata: unlike any other existing messaging platform, SimpleX uses no phone numbers or any other identifiers assigned to the users - not even random numbers. This protects the privacy of who you are communicating with, hiding it from SimpleX platform servers and from any observers. - complete protection against spam and abuse: as you have no identifier on SimpleX platform, you cannot be contacted unless you share a one-time invitation link or an optional temporary user address. - full ownership, control and security of your data: SimpleX stores all user data on client devices, the messages are only held temporarily on SimpleX relay servers until they are received. - decentralized proxied peer-to-peer network: you can use SimpleX Chat via your own relay servers and still communicate with people using pre-configured or any other SimpleX relay servers. - fully open-source code. You can connect to anybody you know via link or scan QR code (in the video call or in person) and start sending messages instantly - no emails, phone numbers or passwords needed. Your profile and contacts are only stored in the app on your device - relay servers do not have access to this information. All messages are end-to-end encrypted using open-source quantum resistant double-ratchet protocol; the messages are delivered via relay servers using open-source SimpleX Messaging Protocol. Please send us any questions via the app (connect to the team via the app settings!), email chat@simplex.chat or submit issues on GitHub (https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/issues) Ream more about SimpleX Chat at https://simplex.chat Get source code in our GitHub repo: https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat Follow us on X/Twitter (@SimpleXChat), Reddit (r/SimpleXChat/) and Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@simplex) for the latest updates. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use: https://simplex.chat/privacy/

Screenshots

Librem Chat4 screens
SimpleX Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Librem Chat at none against SimpleX Chat's 6. Librem Chat also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). SimpleX Chat's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (56% vs 33%). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. SimpleX Chat sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.00 per month. Librem Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 281 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Librem Chat's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Librem Chat ships an update monthly, SimpleX Chat every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Librem Chat versus SimpleX Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLibrem ChatSimpleX Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (11 ratings)4.2 (281 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews55.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11281 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB207 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPURISM, SPCSimpleX Chat

Customer experience

Librem Chat

All ratings11 ratings
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

SimpleX Chat

All ratings281 ratings
Positive79.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative14.9%
Written reviews212 reviews
Positive55.7%
Neutral15.6%
Negative28.8%

Bugs and requests

Librem Chat

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SimpleX Chat

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • 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
Show 14 more
  • QR code scanning not working on iPad
  • Desktop-phone sync connection failures
  • Auto-delete messages interrupting voice recordings
  • Typing inserts extra characters
  • iOS 17 keyboard autofill interferes with typing
  • Chat object unresponsive but moveable (delete)
  • Backup restoration key confirmation fails if contact offline
  • Server switching not reflected in chats
  • Cannot change sending server for stuck messages
  • Connection errors when creating chat links
  • Video upload takes hours
  • Call notifications appearing in Russian
  • Random photo auto-attachment during typing
  • Unable to unsend or delete sent attachments

Requested features

14 requests
  • Read receipts option
  • Typing indicators
  • Bot maker feature like Telegram
  • Multiple image attachment with descriptions
  • Better emoji reaction selection
Show 9 more
  • Mac desktop app
  • Web app (PWA)
  • iPad optimization
  • Improved group discovery/search
  • Global self-destruct message settings
  • Pin photos in group welcome messages
  • Chinese input method support
  • Ringing tone during calls
  • Speakerphone launch option before call pickup

In-app purchases

None

Librem Chat

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

SimpleX Chat

Subscriptions4
  • SimpleX Supporter Badge (Month)$7.001 Month
  • SimpleX Supporter Badge (Year)$42.001 Year
  • SimpleX Legend Badge (Month)$70.001 Month
Show 1 more
  • SimpleX Legend Badge (Year)$419.001 Year
One-time2
  • SimpleX Supporter Badge$7.00
  • SimpleX Legend Badge$70.00

Questions

Is Librem Chat free?
Librem Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SimpleX Chat free?
SimpleX Chat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Librem Chat or SimpleX Chat?
SimpleX Chat is rated higher. Librem Chat averages 3.8 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.2 from 281 ratings.
Do Librem Chat or SimpleX Chat have ads?
Neither Librem Chat nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Librem Chat or SimpleX Chat?
Librem Chat ships an update monthly, and SimpleX Chat every 3 weeks. Most recently, Librem Chat was updated on November 11, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on November 12, 2026.

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