Comparison

Element X vs Sonata 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

Sonata Messenger

A secure messenger designed for private communication. It offers end-to-end encryption for all messages and files, ensuring your conversations remain confidential. Manage your profile and security settings for complete control over your personal data.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Individual and group chats
  • Secure file transfer
  • Profile and security settings management
  • No server message storage
  • No user activity analytics
Features
Read full description

Захищений месенджер для безпечного та приватного спілкування Додаток розроблено з урахуванням найвищих стандартів безпеки та конфіденційності, щоб забезпечити захищене спілкування між користувачами. Усі повідомлення автоматично шифруються за допомогою сучасних алгоритмів шифрування, що гарантує недоступність даних для сторонніх осіб. Основні можливості: • End-to-end шифрування — забезпечує повну конфіденційність переданих повідомлень • Індивідуальні та групові чати — ефективне спілкування у будь-якому форматі • Захищена передача файлів — надійна відправка фото, відео та документів • Керування профілем та налаштуваннями безпеки — повний контроль над особистими даними Конфіденційність як пріоритет Ми не зберігаємо повідомлення на серверах, не здійснюємо аналітики активності користувачів та не використовуємо рекламні ідентифікатори. Ваші дані залишаються тільки у ваших руках.

Screenshots

Element X4 screens
Sonata Messenger3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Element X at 3.4 against Sonata Messenger's 2.3. Element X also leads on ratings volume (169 vs 3) and review sentiment (39% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Element X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 169 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Element X's written reviews are positive against 25% of Sonata Messenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Element X ships an update fortnightly, Sonata Messenger every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Element X versus Sonata Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElement XSonata Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (169 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews38.8% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings169 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.517.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size341 MB164 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperVector Creations LimitedBoris Sagan

Customer experience

Element X

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

Sonata Messenger

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

Element X

No in-app purchases

None

Sonata Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Element X free?
Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sonata Messenger free?
Sonata Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Element X or Sonata Messenger?
Element X is rated higher. Element X averages 3.4 out of 5 from 169 ratings, while Sonata Messenger averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Element X or Sonata Messenger have ads?
Neither Element X nor Sonata Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Element X or Sonata Messenger?
Element X ships an update fortnightly, and Sonata Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, Element X was updated on November 7, 2026 and Sonata Messenger on November 4, 2026.

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