# DEF CON Forums vs Igloo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Igloo at 43% against DEF CON Forums's 0%. Igloo also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and rating (3.7 vs 3.3). DEF CON Forums's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. DEF CON Forums asks for nothing beyond the download.

Igloo holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Igloo has 119 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of DEF CON Forums's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

DEF CON Forums ships an update every 3 months, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DEF CON Forums | Igloo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/def-con-forums/id1472107132/reviews) | **[3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **119** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **43.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DEF CON, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472107131) | [Eskimo Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037652122) |

## What reviewers say

### DEF CON Forums

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/def-con-forums/id1472107132)

Connect with the hacker and infosec communities. Discuss topics, plan for DEF CON conferences, and access the official forums directly through a streamlined interface. Supports multiple languages and prioritizes user privacy.

**Highlights:** Access DEF CON forums, Connect with hacker community, Infosec discussions, Conference planning, Multi-language support, Privacy-focused

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Igloo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560)

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

**Highlights:** Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers, Redesigned user interface with themes, Optimized for bouncers (ZNC), Comprehensive network support, SSL/TLS encryption, Inline media viewing, VoiceOver accessibility

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly License | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly License | $7.99 | per year |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime License (Upgrade) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
- 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
- 💬 Active developer with responsive support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
- 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
- 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
- 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
- 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

**Reported bugs**

- App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
- Theme selection not persisting between app launches
- User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
- Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
- Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive

**Requested features**

- Restore /ignore command for blocking users
- IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
- DCC file transfer support
- Ability to hide/disable Slap function
- Color customization for usernames


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DEF CON Forums free?

DEF CON Forums is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Igloo free?

Igloo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DEF CON Forums or Igloo?

Igloo is rated higher. DEF CON Forums averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

### Do DEF CON Forums or Igloo have ads?

Neither DEF CON Forums nor Igloo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DEF CON Forums or Igloo?

DEF CON Forums ships an update every 3 months, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, DEF CON Forums was updated on September 16, 2026 and Igloo on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*