# Session vs Build Asia

The clearest difference is update cadence: Session at fortnightly against Build Asia's every 4 months. Session also leads on chart position (#96 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Session ships an update fortnightly, Build Asia every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Session | Build Asia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5.4K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 92 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The Loki Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465686521) | [E-COMMERCE GATEWAY PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887782395) |

## 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)

A private messenger focused on user data protection through a decentralized network. It offers secure, end-to-end encrypted communication without requiring personal information for account creation. Enjoy private group chats and secure file sharing with no ads or trackers.

**Highlights:** Fully private account creation, Decentralized server network, No metadata logging, IP address protection, End-to-end encrypted group chats, Secure attachments

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**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


### Build Asia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-asia/id6757343371)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Session free?

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

### Is Build Asia free?

Build Asia is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Session or Build Asia have ads?

Neither Session nor Build Asia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Session or Build Asia?

Session ships an update fortnightly, and Build Asia every 4 months. Most recently, Session was updated on November 9, 2026 and Build Asia on October 31, 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.*