# Session vs Element X

The clearest difference is rating: Session at 4.3 against Element X's 3.4. Session also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 40%) and ratings volume (4.6K vs 152). Element X's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Session holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 4.6K ratings behind it against 152, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Session's written reviews are positive against 40% of Element X's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Session | Element X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868/reviews)** | [3.4 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.6K** | 152 |
| Positive reviews | **63.1% of reviews** | 40.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 96 MB | 313 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The Loki Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465686521) | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) |

## What reviewers say

### Session

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

**Currently charting:** #96 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


### Element X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820)

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging, Video calls, Public and private rooms, Rich messaging features, Cross-device synchronization, Data ownership and server choice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Session free?

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

### Is Element X free?

Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Session or Element X?

Session is rated higher. Session averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 152 ratings.

### Do Session or Element X have ads?

Neither Session nor Element X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Session or Element X?

Session ships an update fortnightly, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, Session was updated on September 23, 2026 and Element X on September 24, 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.*