# Element X vs Beacon by Techne

The clearest difference is rating: Beacon by Techne at 5.0 against Element X's 3.4. Beacon by Techne also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.5). Element X's advantage is ratings volume (162 vs 3). 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.

Beacon by Techne holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 162 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Element X ships an update fortnightly, Beacon by Techne every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Element X | Beacon by Techne |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (162 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-by-techne/id6805626662/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **162** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 38.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 341 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) | [Lucian Hymer](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805626664) |

## What reviewers say

### Element X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beacon by Techne

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-by-techne/id6805626662)

Discover local happenings and friends' activities on a shared map. Light a beacon to share your plans or join public events like markets and meetups. Connect with friends through private circles or public event listings.

**Highlights:** Map of friends' activities, Share personal beacons, Create private circles, Join public events, QR code sharing, Notifications for shared beacons

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Element X free?

Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Beacon by Techne free?

Beacon by Techne is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Element X or Beacon by Techne?

Beacon by Techne is rated higher. Element X averages 3.4 out of 5 from 162 ratings, while Beacon by Techne averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Element X or Beacon by Techne have ads?

Neither Element X nor Beacon by Techne shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Element X or Beacon by Techne?

Element X ships an update fortnightly, and Beacon by Techne every 9 days. Most recently, Element X was updated on October 27, 2026 and Beacon by Techne 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.*