# Synod.im vs ecclesias Chat

The clearest difference is update cadence: Synod.im at every 2 months against ecclesias Chat's every 9 months. Synod.im also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads, 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.

Synod.im ships an update every 2 months, ecclesias Chat every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synod.im | ecclesias Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synodim/id1488171544/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 218 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Christoph Settgast](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488171543) | [Metaways Infosystems GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502100047) |

## What reviewers say

### Synod.im

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synodim/id1488171544)

This app allows participation in a federated messaging system, offering a Matrix-compatible messenger. It connects to a default server but supports others, serving as a fork of a popular iOS client.

**Highlights:** Matrix-compatible messaging, Federated system participation, Customizable homeserver, Fork of Element iOS, Decentralized communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ecclesias Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecclesias-chat/id6503890817)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synod.im free?

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

### Is ecclesias Chat free?

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

### Do Synod.im or ecclesias Chat have ads?

Neither Synod.im nor ecclesias Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Synod.im or ecclesias Chat?

Synod.im ships an update every 2 months, and ecclesias Chat every 9 months. Most recently, Synod.im was updated on October 1, 2026 and ecclesias Chat on October 8, 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.*