Comparison

Session vs Ello Messenger

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

Head to head
About

Session

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
Read full description

Session is a new breed of private messenger, built on a unique network of user-operated servers spread all over the world. With no central servers, Session can’t leak or sell your data. And with Session’s private routing protocols, your messages are completely safe. No trackers, no leaks — send messages, not metadata. • Fully private account creation: No phone number or email needed to create an Account ID • Decentralized server network: No data breaches, no central point of failure • No metadata logging: Session doesn't store, track, or log your messaging metadata • IP address protection: Device IP addresses are never exposed to the person you're talking to or the servers holding your data • Closed groups: Private, end-to-end encrypted group chats for up to 100 people • Secure attachments: Share voice snippets, photos, and files with Session's secure encryption and privacy protections • Free and open-source: Don’t take our word for it — check Session's code yourself Session is free as in free speech and free as in free of ads and trackers. It is stewarded by the Session Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation dedicated to advancing digital rights and innovation. Take back your online privacy today — download Session. Want to build from source, report a bug, or just take a look at our code? Check out Session on GitHub: https://github.com/session-foundation/session-ios Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Session Terms of Service: https://getsession.org/terms-of-service

About

Ello Messenger

This app offers secure messaging and creative tools, including AI-powered content generation. It allows users to connect with others, build communities, and monetize their creations through subscriptions and exclusive content. Sign up easily with just an email.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • AI-powered text and image generation
  • Creator channels and exclusive content
  • Fan subscriptions for creators
  • Direct messaging and group chats
  • Email-based signup
Features
Read full description

PURE MESSAGING: Ello Messenger delivers fast, secure, and seamless communication across all your devices—built for both everyday users and modern creators. FAST: Experience lightning-fast messaging powered by a global infrastructure designed for speed, reliability, and real-time connection anywhere in the world. SYNCED: Access your messages, content, and channels from all your devices at once. Start on one device and continue on another—effortlessly. UNLIMITED: Send media, videos, and files of any type. Store your content securely in the cloud and access it anytime without worrying about device space. SECURE: Your privacy comes first. Messages and calls are protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring your conversations remain completely private. CREATOR-FIRST: Ello is more than messaging—it’s a platform to build, grow, and monetize your audience. Create channels, publish content, and earn directly from your fans. MONETIZATION: Turn your creativity into revenue. Offer subscriptions, exclusive content, and premium experiences—all within your own ecosystem. POWERFUL: Create public or private channels, build communities, share large media files, and manage your audience with powerful, easy-to-use tools. RELIABLE: Built for performance, Ello works smoothly even in low-connectivity environments, ensuring your messages and content are always delivered. SIMPLE: A clean, intuitive interface makes Ello easy to use while delivering a powerful set of features underneath. PRIVATE: You are in control of your data. Ello does not sell your information and gives you full control over your content and communications. FLEXIBLE: Communicate one-on-one, in groups, or through channels. Share updates, build communities, and connect with your audience your way. EASY START: Sign up in seconds using just your email—no phone number required.

Screenshots

Session4 screens
Ello Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Session at 4.4 against Ello Messenger's 3.9. Session also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 41). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Session sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month and Ello Messenger sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Session holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 5.2K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Session's written reviews are positive against 65% of Ello Messenger's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Session ships an update fortnightly, Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Session versus Ello Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSessionEllo Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (5.2K ratings) — better3.9 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews65.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.2K — better41
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#97 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB365 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperThe Loki ProjectFast, private and encrypted

Customer experience

Session

All ratings5,186 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews1,227 reviews
Positive61.0%
Neutral12.1%
Negative26.8%

Ello Messenger

All ratings41 ratings
Positive70.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.0%

Bugs and requests

Session

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Ello Messenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Session

Subscriptions3
  • Session Pro$4.491 Month
  • Session Pro$11.993 Months
  • Session Pro$35.991 Year
16 purchases

Ello Messenger

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Month Membership$10.001 Month
One-time15
  • Support with $1$1.00
  • AI Chat Experience Prompts$4.99
  • AI Image Experience Prompts$4.99
Show 12 more
  • $5 Wallet Credit$5.00
  • Al Images and Chat$5.99
  • $10 Wallet Credit$10.00
  • Mini$10.00
  • $20 Wallet Credit$20.00
  • $25 Wallet Credit$25.00
  • Small$25.00
  • $50 Wallet Credit$50.00
  • Medium$50.00
  • $75 Wallet Credit$75.00
  • $100 Wallet Credit$100.00
  • Large$100.00

Questions

Is Session free?
Session is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ello Messenger free?
Ello Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Session or Ello Messenger?
Session is rated higher. Session averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while Ello Messenger averages 3.9 from 41 ratings.
Do Session or Ello Messenger have ads?
Neither Session nor Ello Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Session or Ello Messenger?
Session ships an update fortnightly, and Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, Session was updated on October 19, 2026 and Ello Messenger on October 19, 2026.

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