UP vs Primal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UP
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.
- End-to-end encrypted messaging
- Encrypted audio/video calls
- Screen sharing
- Private and public chat rooms
- File sharing
- Privacy-first design
- GDPR compliant
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Meet the UP Messenger, your everyday communication tool that does not mine, analyze or monetize your data. Offered as part of the Unplugged application suite, the UP Messenger is designed to protect your privacy and bring the control over your data back to you. Want to communicate freely? Here are some of the main features of the UP Messenger: Message- send and receive encrypted text messages, pictures, video, audio and other files with your friends, family and colleagues. Calls- make one-on-one or conference audio and video calls. You can also share your screen. Rooms- create and manage private and public communication rooms. End-to-End Encryption- every message and call is end-to-end encrypted by default. No one except you (and the other party with whom you communicate) has access to your data, not even Unplugged. Privacy-First- the UP Messenger is private by design. We cannot and will not analyze your data, monetize it or sell it to anyone. For additional information, please review our privacy policy. GDPR- the UP Messenger fully complies with the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Desktop client- visit our website to access the UP Messenger using your desktop web-browser. To learn more about Unplugged and how to reclaim control over your privacy, visit www.unplugged.com.
Primal
Experience a next-generation social media platform built on Nostr and Bitcoin. Enjoy rich media feeds, long-form articles, and integrated Bitcoin wallet functionality. Discover content easily and authorize other Nostr apps with remote login.
- Rich media feeds with playback
- Built-in Bitcoin wallet
- Long form articles
- Extensive content discovery
- Advanced search
- Remote Login for Nostr apps
- Configurable ambient sounds
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Next generation social media powered by Nostr and Bitcoin. Primal features rich feeds with media playback, built-in wallet, long form articles, extensive content discovery, advanced search. Primal can also be used to authorize activity in compatible Nostr apps using Remote Login. During an active remote session, Primal can play user-configurable ambient sounds that continue while the app is in the background. Our terms of use are available at: http://primal.net/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: UP at none against Primal's 5. UP also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 87%). Primal's advantage is ratings volume (928 vs 29) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Primal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. UP asks for nothing beyond the download.
Primal holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Primal has 928 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of UP's written reviews are positive against 87% of Primal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
UP ships an update monthly, Primal every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.
| Parameter | UP | Primal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (29 ratings) | 4.9 (928 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 87.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 29 | 928 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 136 MB | 156 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Unplugged Technologies Ltd | Primal Systems Incorporated. |
Customer experience
UP
Primal
Bugs and requests
UP
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Primal
Reported bugs
3 issues- Losing relay connections when switching to desktop
- Issues with account creation and sign-in process
- Inconsistent display of reactions from other Nostr apps
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for more Nostr reaction types
- Implement robust community/subreddit features
- Improve cache management and clearing options
- Provide better account management and sign-out options
In-app purchases
UP
No in-app purchases
Primal
- Primal Premium Monthly$6.991 Month
- Primal Pro Monthly$69.991 Month
- Primal Premium Yearly$69.991 Year
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- Primal Pro Yearly Subscription$749.991 Year
- Prepaid Nostr Zaps$4.99
