# Nova Messenger vs Barq Messenger

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Nova Messenger at 15.1 against Barq Messenger's 17.6. On price, update cadence, 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.

Nova Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, Barq Messenger every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nova Messenger | Barq Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Size | 45 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Back Alley Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1477237864) | [Abdulaziz Almerdasi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1753808371) |

## What reviewers say

### Nova Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-messenger/id1621358108)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Barq Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barq-messenger/id6747184101)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nova Messenger free?

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

### Is Barq Messenger free?

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

### Do Nova Messenger or Barq Messenger have ads?

Neither Nova Messenger nor Barq Messenger shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nova Messenger or Barq Messenger?

Nova Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, and Barq Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, Nova Messenger was updated on October 27, 2026 and Barq Messenger on October 25, 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.*