# Fractal vs Element X

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fractal at 100% against Element X's 39%. Fractal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.4). Element X's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (156 vs 9). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fractal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Element X asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fractal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 156 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Fractal's written reviews are positive against 39% of Element X's.

Fractal ships an update monthly, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fractal | Element X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-evolved-messaging/id1548620867/reviews)** | [3.4 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **156** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 39.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 299 MB | 313 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Symbiose Technologies, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436521459) | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) |

## What reviewers say

### Fractal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-evolved-messaging/id1548620867)

Engage in group chats with friends and specialized AI personas for personal growth, wellness, and productivity. Create custom AI characters or explore pre-built ones for mental health, career, and more.

**Highlights:** AI Group Chat, Customizable AI Personas, Mental Health Support, Life Coaching, Productivity Tools, Collaborative Problem-Solving

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fractal Plus (1 Month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Fractal Pro (1 Month) | $49.99 | per month |
| Fractal Plus (1 Year) | $96.00 | per year |
| Fractal Pro (1 Year) | $479.99 | per year |


### 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 app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging, Video calls, Public and private rooms, Rich messaging features, Cross-device synchronization, Data ownership and server choice

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fractal free?

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

### Is Element X free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fractal or Element X?

Fractal is rated higher. Fractal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 156 ratings.

### Do Fractal or Element X have ads?

Neither Fractal nor Element X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fractal or Element X?

Fractal ships an update monthly, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, Fractal was updated on October 17, 2026 and Element X on October 19, 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.*