Element X vs bitchat mesh
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Real-time messaging
- Video calls
- Public and private rooms
- Rich messaging features
- Cross-device synchronization
- Data ownership and server choice
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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.
bitchat mesh
Connect with people nearby without needing personal contact information. This app facilitates private, encrypted group chats using Bluetooth mesh technology, making it ideal for local communication without internet access.
- Local Bluetooth mesh chat
- No internet required
- Encrypted private messages
- Relays messages for range
- Sidegroupchat functionality
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chat with people around you. don't need their phone # or email. the sidegroupchat for any function. uses bluetooth mesh, no internet needed. relays messages to go the distance! encrypted private messages.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: bitchat mesh at 4.7 against Element X's 3.5. bitchat mesh also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 39%) and chart position (#124 vs unranked). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
bitchat mesh holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 164 and 522 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Element X's written reviews are positive against 80% of bitchat mesh's.
Element X ships an update fortnightly, bitchat mesh weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | Element X | bitchat mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (164 ratings) | 4.7 (522 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 38.8% of reviews | 79.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 164 | 522 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #124 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 341 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vector Creations Limited | permissionless tech, llc |
Customer experience
Element X
bitchat mesh
Bugs and requests
Element X
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
bitchat mesh
Reported bugs
2 issues- Typing input field issues on Mac
- Notifications not working consistently on iOS
Requested features
5 requests- Drawing/sketching feature like Pictochat
- Customizable themes and UI options
- Ability to filter messages by favorites or verified users
- Support for file sharing and image transfer
- Integration with cryptocurrency/Bitcoin payments
In-app purchases
Element X
No in-app purchases
bitchat mesh
No in-app purchases
