# xPal Ultra Secure Messenger vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SimpleX Chat at none against xPal Ultra Secure Messenger's 13. SimpleX Chat also leads on chart position (#210 vs unranked). xPal Ultra Secure Messenger's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (76% vs 56%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xPal Ultra Secure Messenger sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SimpleX Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 141 and 276 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of xPal Ultra Secure Messenger's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger ships an update weekly, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | xPal Ultra Secure Messenger | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (141 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpal-ultra-secure-messenger/id1536908440/reviews)** | [4.3 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 141 | **276** |
| Positive reviews | **75.9% of reviews** | 56.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#210** |
| Size | 244 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [XPAL.com Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562481384) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### xPal Ultra Secure Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpal-ultra-secure-messenger/id1536908440)

Communicate privately without a phone number using a secure, independently verified messenger. Features end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and file transfers, with advanced privacy controls and disappearing message options.

**Highlights:** No phone number required for registration, End-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and file transfers, Independently verified security, Disappearing messages (Flicker™ Mode), Metadata removal for photos/videos, Desktop and web access

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription 1 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 2 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 3 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 4 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 5 | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription 1 | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription 3 | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription 4 | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription 5 | $39.99 | per year |
| Additional Number Purchase | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Purchase xID | $99.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Purchase xID 2 | $199.99 | one-time |


### SimpleX Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This secure messaging app offers unparalleled privacy by eliminating user identifiers. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and files with features like disappearing messages and incognito mode. Connect via invitation links without needing phone numbers or emails.

**Highlights:** No user identifiers, End-to-end encrypted messages, Disappearing messages, Incognito mode, Encrypted file and voice messages, Secret chat groups, Encrypted portable chat database

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 End-to-end encryption and quantum-resistant security
- 🔐 No phone number or personal data required
- 👤 Anonymous profiles and multiple identities
- 🚀 Fast message delivery when working properly
- 🎯 Decentralized and open-source architecture

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
- 📬 Delayed or missing notifications (20+ minutes common)
- ⌨️ Keyboard issues on iOS (freezing, unresponsive)
- 🔌 Poor connectivity and message delivery failures
- 📱 iPad version not optimized

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (v6.2 update)
- Keyboard unresponsive on iOS 26
- Messages not appearing until app is opened
- Notifications not working despite correct settings
- Chat freezing and lag on iPhone

**Requested features**

- Read receipts option
- Typing indicators
- Bot maker feature like Telegram
- Multiple image attachment with descriptions
- Better emoji reaction selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xPal Ultra Secure Messenger free?

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SimpleX Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, xPal Ultra Secure Messenger or SimpleX Chat?

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger is rated higher. xPal Ultra Secure Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 141 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 276 ratings.

### Do xPal Ultra Secure Messenger or SimpleX Chat have ads?

Neither xPal Ultra Secure Messenger nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, xPal Ultra Secure Messenger or SimpleX Chat?

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger ships an update weekly, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, xPal Ultra Secure Messenger was updated on October 30, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 30, 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.*