Comparison

Session vs Spectra Protocol

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

Spectra Protocol

This app offers a secure, privacy-focused messaging and self-custody wallet experience. It uses wallet-based identity for communication and allows users to manage digital assets securely from their device.

Highlights
  • Wallet-linked identity
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Secure voice and video calls
  • Self-custody wallet
  • Biometric app protection
  • Offline encrypted relay
Read full description

Spectra is a privacy-focused messaging and self-custody wallet app built for secure communication and user-controlled identity. Create or import your wallet, unlock with PIN or Face ID, and use your wallet as your account identity. Send encrypted direct messages and media, make secure voice and video calls, and manage supported digital assets from your own device. Spectra combines wallet-based authentication, end-to-end encrypted messaging, encrypted media, optional Bluetooth relay for nearby/offline delivery, and privacy-focused network features where available. Key features: - Wallet-linked identity without traditional email/password login - End-to-end encrypted direct messages and media - Secure voice and video calls - Self-custody wallet support - PIN and biometric app protection - Optional nearby/offline encrypted relay - Privacy-focused design with no advertising trackers Spectra is designed for users who want private communication, personal control over their identity, and secure access to wallet-based features.

Screenshots

Session4 screens
Spectra Protocol4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Spectra Protocol at 5.0 against Session's 4.4. Spectra Protocol also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Session's advantage is ratings volume (5.2K vs 1) and chart position (#94 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spectra Protocol 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 complicate that: 61% of Session's written reviews are positive against 50% of Spectra Protocol'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, Spectra Protocol weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Session versus Spectra Protocol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSessionSpectra Protocol
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (5.2K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5.2K — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#94 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB87 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperThe Loki ProjectMozaga Foundation

Customer experience

Session

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

Spectra Protocol

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Spectra Protocol

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

Spectra Protocol

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Session free?
Session is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spectra Protocol free?
Spectra Protocol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Session or Spectra Protocol?
Spectra Protocol is rated higher. Session averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while Spectra Protocol averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Session or Spectra Protocol have ads?
Neither Session nor Spectra Protocol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Session or Spectra Protocol?
Session ships an update fortnightly, and Spectra Protocol weekly. Most recently, Session was updated on October 14, 2026 and Spectra Protocol on September 29, 2026.

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