Comparison

Session vs Cirrcles

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

Cirrcles

Features
Read full description

Cirrcles brings your close relationships, family history, and everyday memories into one place. PRIVATE CIRCLES Create separate spaces for family, close friends, and other groups. Choose who belongs and where each moment is shared. MOMENTS Share photos, videos, voice notes, and text. Moments leave the feed after 24 hours; save the ones you want to revisit. React and comment with your people. MESSAGES Keep conversations going in one-to-one and group chats, with photos, attachments, voice notes, and replies. FAMILY TREE Map relationships, add relatives, and explore your family history. Share selected parts of your tree and collaborate with people you trust. STORIES Ask meaningful questions and collect the answers worth keeping. Record family memories in your own words and discover stories from the people around you. THOUGHTS Keep personal notes, ideas, and writing together. Organize your thoughts with rich text and attachments, and share a note when you choose. NATIVE ON IPHONE AND IPAD Enjoy native iOS navigation, Liquid Glass controls, system photo pickers, and share sheets. Choose light or dark appearance and adjust text size. Cirrcles includes reporting, blocking, privacy settings, and account deletion inside the app. An account and internet connection are required for connected features. Account allowances apply to some features.

Screenshots

Session4 screens
Cirrcles4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cirrcles at none against Session's 3. Session's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and chart position (#106 vs unranked). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Session ships an update fortnightly, Cirrcles every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Session versus Cirrcles: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSessionCirrcles
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (5.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.2K — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#106 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB30 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperThe Loki ProjectAlbert Nikanorov

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

Cirrcles

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
None

Cirrcles

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Session free?
Session is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cirrcles free?
Cirrcles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Session or Cirrcles have ads?
Neither Session nor Cirrcles shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Session or Cirrcles?
Session ships an update fortnightly, and Cirrcles every 6 weeks. Most recently, Session was updated on October 18, 2026 and Cirrcles on October 10, 2026.

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