StealthTalk Private Messenger vs Ekko Chat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
StealthTalk Private Messenger
This secure messenger offers end-to-end encrypted voice calls and messages for privacy-conscious professionals. Features include self-destructing messages, a stealth mode for enhanced privacy, and a zero-knowledge architecture.
- Secure voice calls
- End-to-end encrypted messages
- Self-destructing messages
- Stealth mode
- Zero-knowledge architecture
- Patented SDNP protocol
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StealthTalk is a private messenger designed to meet high demands of business- and privacy-minded professionals. Based on a patented SDNP protocol developed for professional use in telecommunications, StealthTalk bridges the gap between professional and consumer security solutions. KEY FEATURES Secure Voice Calls Make secure calls with exceptional voice quality, even with slow internet connection speeds based on TETRA professional communication standards and SDNP protocol. Secure Messages Exchange true end-to-end encrypted messages with all sensitive message data encryption and decryption taking place entirely on the user device. Self-Destruct Messages Send confidential messages that are erased automatically after a selected period of time. Stealth Mode Protected stealth environment for sensitive calls and messages that requires users to enter their password to preview messages or receive calls. PRIVACY & SECURITY End-to-End Encryption All communication within StealthTalk is always protected with end-to-end encryption powered by a patented SDNP protocol that uses ECC 512, AES 256 and SHA-3 512 as primitives. Zero-Knowledge Proof StealthTalk knows nothing about the content of your messages or calls. User data is not collected or stored on StealthTalk servers and cannot be analyzed, sold or disclosed. Professional Telecommunications Technology StealthTalk communication security is based on the patented, tried and field-tested SDNP protocol developed for and used in professional telecommunications. REQUIRED PERMISSIONS StealthTalk requires the following permissions to deliver its private messaging services and ensure all features are operational. • Contacts: Contacts permission is used to match you with your contacts using phone number hashes. StealthTalk does not monetize, collect or store your address book data. • Microphone: Microphone access is required to make secure voice calls • Bluetooth & Location: Bluetooth and location access is needed to locate devices close to you and enable encryption key exchange. • Camera: Camera access is needed to add new contacts via QR code and send pictures with the built-in camera. • Storage: Storage access is needed to store images and files that you receive in chats. For additional information and suggestions, please contact support@stealthtalk.com
Ekko Chat
A secure messaging app that uses multiple independent transport paths to ensure message delivery. It offers end-to-end encryption, offline messaging via Bluetooth, and no account or personal information required for use.
- Multi-transport message delivery
- End-to-end encryption
- Offline messaging via Bluetooth
- No account or personal info required
- Disappearing messages
- Encrypted group chats
- Transparent networking dashboard
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Ekko is a chat messenger that delivers your messages through six independent transport paths. If one is blocked, your message finds another way. No phone number. No email. No account. Your identity is a cryptographic key pair generated on your device and never shared with anyone — not even us. Add contacts by scanning QR codes when you meet in person. This is how trust should work. ENCRYPTED BY DEFAULT Every message is end-to-end encrypted before it leaves your device. Text, photos, documents, GIFs, and files are all protected. Not even Ekko can read your conversations. WORKS WITHOUT INTERNET Ekko uses Bluetooth Low Energy to exchange messages with nearby contacts automatically. Walk past someone at a coffee shop and pending messages deliver silently — no cell tower, no Wi-Fi required. When contacts aren't nearby, messages route through the internet via five other transport methods. SIX TRANSPORT PATHS - Bluetooth: Nearby offline delivery within 100 meters - Mesh Gossip: Messages forwarded by nearby peers - Distributed Hash Table: Decentralized serverless routing - Tor Onion: High-privacy delivery - Peer Link: Fast QUIC-based direct connections - Private Relay: Always-on encrypted push delivery Each message automatically finds the best available path. The transport dashboard shows you exactly how every message traveled. GROUP CONVERSATIONS Create encrypted group chats, invite contacts, share files, and set disappearing message timers for the entire group. Member management lets you add or remove participants at any time. DISAPPEARING MESSAGES Set messages to self-destruct after 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week. Once gone, they cannot be recovered. SHARE MEDIA SECURELY Send photos from your camera or gallery, browse and send animated GIFs, attach documents and files of any type — all encrypted end-to-end. An inline attachment menu gives you quick access to Files, Photos, Camera, and GIF search without leaving the conversation. PRIVATE RELAY SERVER Subscribe to a dedicated relay server for instant push delivery when you and your contacts aren't nearby. Messages are stored encrypted on the relay — it cannot read them. Invite contacts to share your relay for mutual always-on delivery. VERIFY CONTACTS Compare cryptographic fingerprints in person or through a trusted channel to verify that your contact is who they claim to be. No certificate authorities, no central trust — just mathematics. TRANSPARENT NETWORKING The transport dashboard gives you full visibility into how your messages travel. See which transports are active, how many network peers you're connected to, and which path delivered each individual message. An in-chat legend explains every transport and status icon. YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE All data stays on your device. There is no cloud sync, no analytics, no tracking, and no telemetry. Export an encrypted backup anytime for device transfers. Delete everything with a single tap. BIOMETRIC UNLOCK Secure the app with Face ID or fingerprint authentication on supported devices for fast, convenient access. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED PRIVACY Ekko is designed for journalists, activists, travelers, and anyone who believes private communication is a fundamental right. Whether you're in a restrictive environment where traditional messengers are monitored, or you simply want conversations that stay between you and your contacts, Ekko ensures your messages always find a way. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ekko Chat at 100% against StealthTalk Private Messenger's 50%. Ekko Chat also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8). StealthTalk Private Messenger's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. StealthTalk Private Messenger sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Ekko Chat sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Ekko Chat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of StealthTalk Private Messenger's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ekko Chat's.
StealthTalk Private Messenger ships an update fortnightly, Ekko Chat every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | StealthTalk Private Messenger | Ekko Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 94 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | StealthTalk Inc. | Chris Ross |
Customer experience
StealthTalk Private Messenger
Ekko Chat
In-app purchases
StealthTalk Private Messenger
- StealthTalk Pro (1 month)$4.99
- StealthTalk PRO (1 Month)$9.99
- StealthTalk Max (1 month)$9.99
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- StealthTalk Elite (1 month)$14.99
- StealthTalk Pro (1 year)$49.99
- StealthTalk PRO (12 Months)$99.99
- StealthTalk Max (1 year)$99.99
- StealthTalk Elite (1 year)$149.99
Ekko Chat
- Standard Relay Monthly Subscription$6.991 Month
- Premium Relay Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
- Annual Relay Standard Subscription$69.991 Year
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- Annual Relay Premium Subscription$99.991 Year
Questions
Is StealthTalk Private Messenger free?
Is Ekko Chat free?
Which has better reviews, StealthTalk Private Messenger or Ekko Chat?
Do StealthTalk Private Messenger or Ekko Chat have ads?
Which is updated more often, StealthTalk Private Messenger or Ekko Chat?
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