# Seagull IM vs Telechat

The clearest difference is rating: Telechat at 4.3 against Seagull IM's 3.6. Seagull IM's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Seagull IM sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Telechat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Telechat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 133 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 87% of Seagull IM's written reviews are positive against 67% of Telechat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Seagull IM ships an update every 3 weeks, Telechat every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Seagull IM | Telechat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seagull-im/id1584062834/reviews) | **[4.3 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telechat-direct-telegram/id1590333625/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 47 | **133** |
| Positive reviews | **87.2% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 234 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chengdu zhengdu Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504601973) | [Jay Butani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584170213) |

## What reviewers say

### Seagull IM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seagull-im/id1584062834)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted chats, voice, and video calls. It prioritizes user privacy with features like screenshot notifications and bidirectional deletion, making communication efficient and private.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Screenshot notifications, Bidirectional message deletion, Large group chat support, Voice and video calls, Application lock

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 海鸥1个月靓号服务券 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥3个月靓号服务券 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-1个月 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥6个月靓号服务券 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥12个月靓号服务券 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-3个月 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 欧币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-12个月 | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1298元欧币 | $199.99 | one-time |


### Telechat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telechat-direct-telegram/id1590333625)

Send messages to any Telegram user without saving their contact. This app allows direct messaging via phone number or username, keeping your contact list clean. It supports over 242 countries and offers a simple, fast way to connect.

**Highlights:** Message without saving contacts, Send by phone number or username, Supports 242+ countries, Keeps phonebook clean, Simple, easy, and fast, Full privacy, no data collection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Seagull IM free?

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

### Is Telechat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Seagull IM or Telechat?

Telechat is rated higher. Seagull IM averages 3.6 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while Telechat averages 4.3 from 133 ratings.

### Do Seagull IM or Telechat have ads?

Both Seagull IM and Telechat show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Seagull IM or Telechat?

Seagull IM ships an update every 3 weeks, and Telechat every 2 months. Most recently, Seagull IM was updated on November 7, 2026 and Telechat on November 7, 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.*