# Librem Chat vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is rating: SimpleX Chat at 4.3 against Librem Chat's 3.8. SimpleX Chat also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 33%) and ratings volume (268 vs 11). Librem Chat's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 268 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.

Librem Chat ships an update monthly, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Librem Chat | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librem-chat/id1456162175/reviews) | **[4.3 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **56.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 116 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PURISM, SPC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448949014) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### Librem Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librem-chat/id1456162175)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 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 no in-app purchases.

### 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 4.3 from 268 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 2 weeks. Most recently, Librem Chat was updated on October 1, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 16, 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.*