Element X vs sTalk Messenger
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.
sTalk Messenger
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sTalk is a corporate messenger with encryption for all messages and calls. FEATURES Instant Messaging • Rich text formatting • Emoji reactions • Threaded replies with quoting • Edit and delete sent messages • Typing indicators, read receipts • Full-text chat history search Groups & Rooms • Direct messages and group rooms • Threads for structured discussions • Member management and permissions • Pinned messages Video & Audio Calls • Group calls • Screen sharing • Noise suppression, background blur • Call recording • Hand raise, active speaker • AirPods and Bluetooth support Files & Media • Photos, videos, audio, documents • Voice messages with waveform visualization • Location sharing with maps Security • End-to-end encryption for all chats and calls • Corporate authentication via OIDC • Device verification with cross-signing REQUIREMENTS • Corporate account at your organization • iOS 18.5+ • Internet connection • Camera and microphone access for calls
Screenshots
Verdict
Element X and sTalk Messenger are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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.
Element X ships an update fortnightly, sTalk Messenger every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Element X | sTalk Messenger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (169 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 169 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 341 MB | 271 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Vector Creations Limited | Sergey Tymbay |
In-app purchases
Element X
No in-app purchases
sTalk Messenger
No in-app purchases









