# JKChat vs Igloo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JKChat at 100% against Igloo's 43%. JKChat also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). Igloo's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (119 vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. JKChat asks for nothing beyond the download.

JKChat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Igloo has 119 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of JKChat's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

JKChat ships an update every 3 months, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JKChat | Igloo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jkchat/id1545850673/reviews)** | [3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **119** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 43.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vladimir Borozdin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1242999019) | [Eskimo Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037652122) |

## What reviewers say

### JKChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jkchat/id1545850673)

Connect to Jedi Knight and Quake III Arena game servers to chat with players directly from your mobile device. Receive notifications, monitor server activity with widgets, and save your favorite servers for quick access.

**Highlights:** Connect to game servers, In-app chat, Push notifications, Server monitoring widgets, Save favorite servers, Watch games with minimaps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Igloo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560)

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

**Highlights:** Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers, Redesigned user interface with themes, Optimized for bouncers (ZNC), Comprehensive network support, SSL/TLS encryption, Inline media viewing, VoiceOver accessibility

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly License | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly License | $7.99 | per year |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime License (Upgrade) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
- 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
- 💬 Active developer with responsive support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
- 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
- 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
- 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
- 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

**Reported bugs**

- App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
- Theme selection not persisting between app launches
- User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
- Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
- Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive

**Requested features**

- Restore /ignore command for blocking users
- IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
- DCC file transfer support
- Ability to hide/disable Slap function
- Color customization for usernames


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JKChat free?

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

### Is Igloo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, JKChat or Igloo?

JKChat is rated higher. JKChat averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

### Do JKChat or Igloo have ads?

Neither JKChat nor Igloo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, JKChat or Igloo?

JKChat ships an update every 3 months, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, JKChat was updated on June 11, 2026 and Igloo on September 9, 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.*