# Berty Messenger vs Element X

The clearest difference is rating: Element X at 3.4 against Berty Messenger's 3.1. Element X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (169 vs 23). Berty Messenger's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.5). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Element X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 169 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Berty Messenger's written reviews are positive against 40% of Element X's.

Berty Messenger ships an update every 2 months, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Berty Messenger | Element X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/berty-messenger/id1535500412/reviews) | **[3.4 (169 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **169** |
| Positive reviews | 32.3% of reviews | **39.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 167 MB | 225 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Berty Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437267587) | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) |

## What reviewers say

### Berty Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/berty-messenger/id1535500412)

This app offers secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging without central servers. It allows communication even without an internet connection, ensuring anonymity and protecting user metadata from surveillance.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, 100% decentralized P2P network, Completely anonymous user profiles, Metadata protection, Offline communication via Bluetooth, Group chats and media sharing, Voice message sharing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Element X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820)

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This open-source app built on the Matrix protocol allows you to own your data and choose where to host it, offering features like public and private rooms, rich messaging, and cross-device synchronization.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging and video calls, Public and private group communication, Rich messaging features (reactions, polls), Cross-device message synchronization, Data ownership and server choice, Interoperability with other Matrix apps

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Berty Messenger free?

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

### Is Element X free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Berty Messenger or Element X?

Element X is rated higher. Berty Messenger averages 3.1 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 169 ratings.

### Do Berty Messenger or Element X have ads?

Neither Berty Messenger nor Element X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Berty Messenger or Element X?

Berty Messenger ships an update every 2 months, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, Berty Messenger was updated on November 7, 2026 and Element X on November 13, 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.*