Session vs Iridium Chat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Anonymous account creation
- Decentralized server network
- No metadata logging
- IP address protection
- End-to-end encrypted group chats
- Secure file sharing
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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
Iridium Chat
This app enables real-time, app-to-app instant messaging and image sharing globally via a satellite Wi-Fi device. It offers an always-on messaging experience, group chats, and location sharing.
- Real-time app-to-app messaging
- Global satellite network access
- Group chats up to 50 people
- Image sharing with compression
- Location sharing via clickable link
- Contact syncing
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A companion app for the Iridium GO! exec® satellite Wi-Fi access device, Iridium Chat harnesses the truly global Iridium® network, allowing app-to-app instant messaging and image sharing from anywhere. Unlike standard apps compatible with Iridium GO! exec, Iridium Chat – utilizing Iridium Messaging Transport® – offers users an "always on," real-time messaging experience. FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES • Send and receive messages while connected to Iridium GO! exec or when using Wi-Fi or cellular data. • Stay connected with group chats of up to 50 individuals. • Share images: Inbuilt compression tool helps ensure better user experience with faster loading time and network efficiency. • Share location: Clickable link shows the user's location in recipient's default maps app. • Sync your contacts: Smart device contacts are synced and sorted so Iridium Chat users are easy to find.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Iridium Chat at 5.0 against Session's 4.4. Iridium Chat also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 61%) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Session's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 1). On price, ads, monetization model 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. Session sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Iridium Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.
Iridium Chat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 5.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Session's written reviews are positive against 100% of Iridium Chat's.
Session ships an update fortnightly, Iridium Chat every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Session | Iridium Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (5.2K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #105 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 92 MB | 99 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Loki Project | Iridium |
Customer experience
Session
Iridium Chat
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
Iridium Chat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Session
- Session Pro$4.491 Month
- Session Pro$11.993 Months
- Session Pro$35.991 Year
Iridium Chat
No in-app purchases









