Comparison

eljo vs BonChat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

eljo

A secure messaging application for building trusted communication circles with friends, family, and groups. It prioritizes user privacy and allows for the creation of close-knit communities.

Highlights
  • Secure messaging
  • Build trusted circles
  • Connect with friends
  • Group communication
  • Privacy-focused
Features
Read full description

Your new secure messaging app is here! Build your circles of trust with friends, family, and groups.

About

BonChat

This app offers secure messaging and file sharing with state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption. It provides options for private or on-premise server deployment, advanced group management, and a user-friendly interface. Enjoy seamless cross-platform communication with full control over your data.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Private/on-premise server deployment
  • Advanced group management
  • User-friendly interface
  • Cross-platform support
Read full description

Welcome to BonChat, your ultimate solution for secure and private communication! With BonChat, you can enjoy seamless messaging, file sharing, and collaboration - all protected by state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption. # Key Features ## End-to-End Encryption Your messages and files are encrypted from the moment they leave your device until they reach the recipient, ensuring that only you and your chosen contacts can read or access them. ## Private or On-Premise Server Deployment Take control of your data with our private or on-premise server deployment option. Host BonChat on your own servers for total peace of mind, knowing that your communication is secure and under your control. ## Powerful Group Management Experience advanced group functionality with BonChat’s robust group management features. Create, manage, and customize groups effortlessly while controlling member permissions in detail for enhanced collaboration. ## User-Friendly Interface BonChat is designed for everyone. Our intuitive interface makes it easy to send messages, share files, and manage your contacts without compromising on security. ## Cross-Platform Support Whether you’re on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, BonChat provides a seamless experience across all devices, ensuring you stay connected anytime, anywhere. Experience the freedom of secure communication with BonChat. Download now and take the first step towards protecting your conversations and data like never before! BonChat: Your data, your control, your security.

Screenshots

eljo4 screens
BonChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BonChat at 59K against eljo's 4. eljo's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

eljo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BonChat has 59K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eljo ships an update every 2 weeks, BonChat every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
eljo versus BonChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereljoBonChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.8 (59K ratings)
Positive reviews—55.7% of reviews
Number of ratings459K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.4 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB77 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMy Circle LLCHong Kong CipherChat Tech Company Limited

Customer experience

eljo

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BonChat

All ratings59,172 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews506 reviews
Positive55.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative41.7%

Bugs and requests

eljo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

BonChat

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Add read receipts (two checkmarks when message is read)
  • Improve keyboard and text area usability

In-app purchases

None

eljo

No in-app purchases

None

BonChat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eljo free?
eljo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BonChat free?
BonChat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eljo or BonChat?
eljo is rated higher. eljo averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while BonChat averages 4.8 from 59K ratings.
Do eljo or BonChat have ads?
Neither eljo nor BonChat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eljo or BonChat?
eljo ships an update every 2 weeks, and BonChat every 4 weeks. Most recently, eljo was updated on October 4, 2026 and BonChat on October 16, 2026.

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