# UP vs Council

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: UP at none against Council's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Council sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. UP asks for nothing beyond the download.

UP ships an update monthly, Council every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | UP | Council |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/up-messenger/id1644037554/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **31** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 136 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unplugged Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1644037556) | [Encom Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639959330) |

## What reviewers say

### UP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/up-messenger/id1644037554)

This communication tool prioritizes user privacy by offering end-to-end encrypted messaging and calls. It allows for secure sharing of various media types and the creation of private or public chat rooms. The app is designed to prevent data mining and monetization, fully complying with GDPR.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, Encrypted audio/video calls, Screen sharing, Private and public chat rooms, File sharing, Privacy-first design, GDPR compliant

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Council

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/council-encrypted-messaging/id1659946397)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Council annual subscription | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UP free?

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

### Is Council free?

Council is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do UP or Council have ads?

Neither UP nor Council shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, UP or Council?

UP ships an update monthly, and Council every 2 months. Most recently, UP was updated on October 24, 2026 and Council on October 24, 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.*