# Sentinel vs Chat Archive

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sentinel at none against Chat Archive's 3. Sentinel also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). Chat Archive's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chat Archive sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Sentinel asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sentinel ships an update every 7 months, Chat Archive weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sentinel | Chat Archive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-archive-export-and-backup/id6743768869/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mobit Belgium bvba](https://appshunter.io/developer/1264033760) | [Danilo Souza](https://appshunter.io/developer/680249353) |

## What reviewers say

### Sentinel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentinel/id1477956230)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chat Archive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-archive-export-and-backup/id6743768869)

Easily import and search your WhatsApp chat exports offline on your device. View messages, media, and voice notes, transcribe audio, and export conversations to PDF for long-term storage or sharing. Take control of your chat history without needing an account.

**Highlights:** Import WhatsApp chat exports, Offline chat viewing, Searchable messages, Media and voice note support, Voice note transcription, Export to PDF, No account required

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access (1 Month) | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium Access (1 Year) | $44.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $20.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sentinel free?

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

### Is Chat Archive free?

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

### Do Sentinel or Chat Archive have ads?

Neither Sentinel nor Chat Archive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sentinel or Chat Archive?

Sentinel ships an update every 7 months, and Chat Archive weekly. Most recently, Sentinel was updated on October 8, 2026 and Chat Archive on October 6, 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.*