# aka vs HLS

The clearest difference is ads: HLS at none against aka's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aka | HLS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (421 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aka/id1476189685/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **421** | — |
| Positive reviews | 19.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 211 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aboobaker Sideeq Ariyal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476189684) | [MIND for Information Technology and Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480680621) |

## What reviewers say

### aka

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aka/id1476189685)

This app offers a fun and enhanced messaging experience by leveraging the Telegram API. Enjoy fast, secure, and private chats with millions worldwide, including high-quality video calls and advanced features like secret chats and multi-account support.

**Highlights:** Video calls, Secret chat with encryption, Chat filtering by type, Unlimited cloud storage access, Login with up to 6 accounts, Fast and secure messaging

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hls/id6742778664)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aka free?

aka is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HLS free?

HLS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do aka or HLS have ads?

aka shows ads; HLS does not.

### Which is updated more often, aka or HLS?

aka ships an update every 2 months, and HLS every 2 months. Most recently, aka was updated on November 3, 2026 and HLS on October 25, 2026.

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