# UP vs Primal

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | UP | Primal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/up-messenger/id1644037554/reviews) | **[4.9 (928 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/primal/id1673134518/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **928** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 87.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 136 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Unplugged Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1644037556) | [Primal Systems Incorporated.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673134521) |

## 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


### Primal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/primal/id1673134518)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primal Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Primal Pro Monthly | $69.99 | per month |
| Primal Premium Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Primal Pro Yearly Subscription | $749.99 | per year |
| Prepaid Nostr Zaps | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 🔒 Secure and private social experience
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Seamless integration with Bitcoin Lightning Network
- 🤘 Empowering decentralized social media

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🇨🇦 Limited functionality for Canadian users
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search and discovery features
- 🔔 Inconsistent push notification support

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UP free?

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

### Is Primal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, UP or Primal?

Primal is rated higher. UP averages 4.7 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Primal averages 4.9 from 928 ratings.

### Do UP or Primal have ads?

Neither UP nor Primal shows ads.

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

UP ships an update monthly, and Primal every 2 weeks. Most recently, UP was updated on October 15, 2026 and Primal on October 15, 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.*