Secret Message Exchange vs Underlayer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Secret Message Exchange
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Have you ever experienced that the messages between you and your family, friends (partners) on SNS somehow are seen by someone else? If you have such a concern, you can solve the problem if you can exchange messages in a way that only you and your partners can understand. By using this application, a sender can embed a message in an image (photo) and posts it on an SNS, then the receiver can restore and read the embedded message from the image. Since the sender and receiver of the message use the same "key image" to embed (encrypt) and restore (decrypt) the message into/from the key image, the sender and receiver need to register the same image as the key image in advance in this application. One sample key image is registered in this application. So, it is recommended that you try it once by using the sample key image and experience what it feels like. [Note] - Only landscape image with aspect ratio 4: 3 can be used. - The key image to be registered for each of the sender and receiver must have the same image size and file size. If you do not have the exact same key, you can not decrypt the message correctly. - In the case of the image sent by e-mail, the image size may be reduced due to limitation of the e-mail attachment file size, so please pay attention to the file size when you use email. Overview of the operation follows; == Create an encrypted message == 1. Launch this application and tap "Encryption" button. 2. Select a key image. If you use key images other than samples, In-app Purchase is required. 3. Type your message. 4. Tap "Encrypt" button. 5. The message is embedded in the key image and saved in the Photo Library, so post it using SNS applications or email. == Decrypt an encrypted message == 1. Save the image received by SNS applications or email to Photo Library. At this time, it needs to be saved with the image size and file size as it is sent. 2. Open this application and tap "Decryption" button. 3. Select an image from the Photo Library, and select the corresponding key image as well. 4. Tap "Decrypt" button to decrypt and display a message. [Note] - The displayed message is an image. If you want to save the message, please take a screenshot and save it as an image. - Depending on the key image used, noise (black dots) may be displayed on the message screen. We are happy if you are interested in this application. Thanks!
Underlayer
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UNDERLAYER - STEGANOGRAPHY MADE SIMPLE Transform ordinary images into secret carriers. Hide confidential messages invisibly within photos and share them through any messenger without raising suspicion. KEY FEATURES: HIDE SECRETS • Embed text messages invisibly into any image • Two encoding modes: Hidden (invisible pixels) and Open (colored frame) • Open mode survives messenger compression (Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) • Share processed images directly or save to gallery REVEAL MESSAGES • Extract hidden text from steganographic images • Automatic detection of encoding method • Works with images received through messengers • Share intent support - open images directly from gallery WHY UNDERLAYER? • Simple & Intuitive - No cryptography knowledge required • Messenger-Friendly - Open mode designed for compressed sharing • Privacy First - All processing happens locally on your device • Universal - Works with JPG, PNG, WebP formats • No Account Required - Start using immediately USE CASES • Private communication through public channels • Watermarking images with hidden ownership data • Secure note-taking in plain sight • Educational tool for learning steganography • Fun way to send secret messages to friends SECURITY & PRIVACY • No internet connection required for processing • Your messages never leave your device • No data collection or tracking • Complete control over your secrets PREMIUM FEATURES • No banner ads at the bottom • No interstitial ad interruptions • Process unlimited images without ad breaks HOW IT WORKS 1. Select any image from your gallery 2. Enter your secret message 3. Choose encoding mode (Hidden or Open) 4. App embeds message into image pixels 5. Share through messengers or save locally 6. Recipient opens image in Underlayer to reveal message ENCODING MODES EXPLAINED HIDDEN MODE • Message embedded invisibly in image pixels • Completely undetectable to human eye • Best for uncompressed image sharing • Lost when image is compressed by messengers OPEN MODE • Message encoded as colored frame border • Visible as decorative edge around image • Survives Telegram, WhatsApp compression • Recommended for messenger sharing INTERNATIONAL • Available in English and Russian • More languages coming soon • Automatic language detection Whether you're a privacy enthusiast, security professional, or just curious about steganography - Underlayer makes it accessible to everyone. Download now and start hiding your secrets in plain sight! Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Secret Message Exchange at none against Underlayer's shown. Secret Message Exchange also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.1). On price, in-app purchases 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. Secret Message Exchange sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Underlayer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Secret Message Exchange | Underlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | — | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 169 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Import EV | Mihail Rukavishnikov |
In-app purchases
Secret Message Exchange
- Use of additional Key Images$4.99
Underlayer
- Premium$2.997 Days
Questions
Is Secret Message Exchange free?
Is Underlayer free?
Do Secret Message Exchange or Underlayer have ads?
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