# Delta Chat vs Session

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Delta Chat at none against Session's 3. Session's advantage is ratings volume (5.2K vs 127) and chart position (#99 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Session sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Delta Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Delta Chat against 4.4 for Session. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 5.2K ratings behind it against 127, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Delta Chat's written reviews are positive against 61% of Session's.

Delta Chat ships an update every 3 weeks, Session fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Delta Chat | Session |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/delta-chat/id1459523234/reviews)** | [4.4 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 127 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **63.2% of reviews** | 61.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#99** |
| Size | 61 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [merlinux](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459523233) | [The Loki Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465686521) |

## What reviewers say

### Delta Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/delta-chat/id1459523234)

This decentralized messenger offers private, secure, and reliable instant messaging. It allows for easy setup on multiple devices and supports multiple chat profiles without requiring a phone number. Enjoy end-to-end encryption and the flexibility to run it with your own email or server.

**Highlights:** Decentralized instant messaging, Private onboarding without phone number, End-to-end encryption, Multiple chat profiles, Works on multiple devices, Self-hosted option

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Session

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

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This secure messenger prioritizes your privacy with a decentralized network and end-to-end encryption. It offers anonymous account creation, IP address protection, and private group chats without collecting any metadata. Share messages and files with confidence, knowing your communications are truly private.

**Highlights:** Anonymous account creation, Decentralized server network, No metadata logging, IP address protection, End-to-end encrypted group chats, Secure file sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Session Pro | $4.49 | per month |
| Session Pro | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| Session Pro | $35.99 | per year |

**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 Delta Chat free?

Delta Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Session free?

Session is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Delta Chat or Session?

Delta Chat is rated higher. Delta Chat averages 4.5 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Session averages 4.4 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do Delta Chat or Session have ads?

Neither Delta Chat nor Session shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Delta Chat or Session?

Delta Chat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Session fortnightly. Most recently, Delta Chat was updated on October 14, 2026 and Session on October 17, 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.*