Comparison

Element X vs Ello Messenger

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Element X

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
Read full description

Freedom to communicate on your own terms For individuals and communities - private communication between family, friends, hobby groups, clubs, etc. Element X gives you fast, secure and private instant messaging and video calls built on Matrix, the open standard for real-time communication. This is a free and open-source app maintained at https://github.com/element-hq/element-x-ios Stay in touch with friends, family and communities with: • Real time messaging & video calls • Public rooms for open group communication • Private rooms for closed group communication • Rich messaging features: emoji reactions, replies, polls, pinned messages and more. • Video calling while browsing messages. • Interoperability with other Matrix-based apps such as FluffyChat, Cinny and many more. Privacy-first Unlike some other messengers from Big Tech companies, we don’t mine your data or monitor your communications. Own your conversations Choose where to host your data - from any public server (the largest free server is matrix.org, but there are plenty of others to choose from) to creating your own personal server and hosting it on your own domain. This ability to choose a server is a large part of what differentiates us from other real time communication apps. However you host, you have ownership; it’s your data. You’re not the product. You’re in control. Communicate in real time, all the time Use Element everywhere. Stay in touch wherever you are with fully synchronised message history across all your devices, including on the web at https://app.element.io Element X is our next-generation app If you’re using the previous-generation Element Classic app, it’s time to try Element X! It’s faster, easier to use, and more powerful than the classic app. It’s better in every way and we’re adding new features all the time.

About

Ello Messenger

This app offers secure messaging and creative tools, including AI-powered content generation. It allows users to connect with others, build communities, and monetize their creations through subscriptions and exclusive content. Sign up easily with just an email.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • AI-powered text and image generation
  • Creator channels and exclusive content
  • Fan subscriptions for creators
  • Direct messaging and group chats
  • Email-based signup
Features
Read full description

PURE MESSAGING: Ello Messenger delivers fast, secure, and seamless communication across all your devices—built for both everyday users and modern creators. FAST: Experience lightning-fast messaging powered by a global infrastructure designed for speed, reliability, and real-time connection anywhere in the world. SYNCED: Access your messages, content, and channels from all your devices at once. Start on one device and continue on another—effortlessly. UNLIMITED: Send media, videos, and files of any type. Store your content securely in the cloud and access it anytime without worrying about device space. SECURE: Your privacy comes first. Messages and calls are protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring your conversations remain completely private. CREATOR-FIRST: Ello is more than messaging—it’s a platform to build, grow, and monetize your audience. Create channels, publish content, and earn directly from your fans. MONETIZATION: Turn your creativity into revenue. Offer subscriptions, exclusive content, and premium experiences—all within your own ecosystem. POWERFUL: Create public or private channels, build communities, share large media files, and manage your audience with powerful, easy-to-use tools. RELIABLE: Built for performance, Ello works smoothly even in low-connectivity environments, ensuring your messages and content are always delivered. SIMPLE: A clean, intuitive interface makes Ello easy to use while delivering a powerful set of features underneath. PRIVATE: You are in control of your data. Ello does not sell your information and gives you full control over your content and communications. FLEXIBLE: Communicate one-on-one, in groups, or through channels. Share updates, build communities, and connect with your audience your way. EASY START: Sign up in seconds using just your email—no phone number required.

Screenshots

Element X4 screens
Ello Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Element X at none against Ello Messenger's 10. Element X also leads on ratings volume (168 vs 41). Ello Messenger's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (65% vs 39%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ello Messenger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Element X asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ello Messenger holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 168 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Element X's written reviews are positive against 65% of Ello Messenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Element X ships an update fortnightly, Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Element X versus Ello Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElement XEllo Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (168 ratings)3.9 (41 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.8% of reviews65.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings168 — better41
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.516.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size341 MB365 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperVector Creations LimitedFast, private and encrypted

Customer experience

Element X

All ratings162 ratings
Positive56.8%
Neutral13.6%
Negative29.6%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive38.8%
Neutral19.7%
Negative41.5%

Ello Messenger

All ratings41 ratings
Positive70.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.0%

In-app purchases

None

Element X

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Ello Messenger

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Month Membership$10.001 Month
One-time9
  • Support with $1$1.00
  • AI Image Experience Prompts$4.99
  • $5 Wallet Credit$5.00
Show 6 more
  • $10 Wallet Credit$10.00
  • Mini$10.00
  • Small$25.00
  • $75 Wallet Credit$75.00
  • $100 Wallet Credit$100.00
  • Large$100.00

Questions

Is Element X free?
Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ello Messenger free?
Ello Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Element X or Ello Messenger?
Ello Messenger is rated higher. Element X averages 3.5 out of 5 from 168 ratings, while Ello Messenger averages 3.9 from 41 ratings.
Do Element X or Ello Messenger have ads?
Neither Element X nor Ello Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Element X or Ello Messenger?
Element X ships an update fortnightly, and Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, Element X was updated on November 3, 2026 and Ello Messenger on October 30, 2026.

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