Session vs Spectra Protocol
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
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.
- Wallet-linked identity
- End-to-end encrypted messaging
- Secure voice and video calls
- Self-custody wallet
- Biometric app protection
- Offline encrypted relay
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Session ships an update fortnightly, Spectra Protocol weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Session | Spectra Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (5.2K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #94 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 92 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | The Loki Project | Mozaga Foundation |
Customer experience
Session
Spectra Protocol
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
Session
- Session Pro$4.491 Month
- Session Pro$11.993 Months
- Session Pro$35.991 Year
Spectra Protocol
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Session free?
Is Spectra Protocol free?
Which has better reviews, Session or Spectra Protocol?
Do Session or Spectra Protocol have ads?
Which is updated more often, Session or Spectra Protocol?
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