Comparison

Primal vs FreeFrom

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

FreeFrom

This decentralized social network prioritizes user privacy with a simple, one-click registration process. Share text, pictures, and videos, and connect with others through encrypted direct messages and public chat channels. Content is user-owned and accessible across the Nostr ecosystem.

Highlights
  • One-click registration
  • Encrypted direct messages
  • User-owned content
  • Public chat channels
  • Post text, pictures, and videos
  • Access across Nostr ecosystem
Features
Read full description

FreeFrom is an app dedicated to bringing privacy and freedom back to social network build in nostr. The registration process is extremely simple, and there is no need for email, phone and other information that may expose your personal privacy. FreeFrom is developed based on the decentralized Nostr protocol; we have no ability to filter content or ban accounts. The content you publish and the social relationships you establish belong entirely to you and can also be accessed from other products in the Nostr ecosystem. Your DMs with friends are protected by encryption algorithms. Express yourself in a safe and private space: -Register with one click. No email, phone number or other personal information is needed. -Express the real you. Easily post text, pictures, and short videos. -Choose an interesting avatar, set up your personal homepage, and show your friends who you want to be. -Based on the Nostr protocol, the content you publish is your personal asset, and we cannot filter content or ban accounts. Meet like-minded new friends: -Your DMs with friends are protected by encryption algorithms. -Join public chat channels to find more interesting new friends. -Create public chat channels to let like-minded friends find you faster. -You won't lose touch. Your friends and followers can also be accessed from other products in the Nostr ecosystem. Discover a broader world: -Numerous accounts in fields such as news, technology, food, art, and more are waiting for your to follow. -We recommend interesting global events that are happening for you. -There are no system ads, and we detect spam for you.

Screenshots

Primal4 screens
FreeFrom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Primal at 87% against FreeFrom's 27%. Primal also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and ads (none vs shown). FreeFrom's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 weeks). On price and device support 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. Primal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. FreeFrom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Primal holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Primal has 937 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Primal's written reviews are positive against 27% of FreeFrom's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Primal ships an update every 2 weeks, FreeFrom every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Primal versus FreeFrom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrimalFreeFrom
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (937 ratings) — better4.2 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews87.4% of reviews — better27.3% of reviews
Number of ratings937 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB78 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperPrimal Systems Incorporated.FreeFrom K.K.

Customer experience

Primal

All ratings935 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral0.6%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive87.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative9.6%

FreeFrom

All ratings25 ratings
Positive72.0%
Neutral16.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive27.3%
Neutral36.4%
Negative36.4%

Bugs and 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

FreeFrom

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Primal

Subscriptions4
  • Primal Premium Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Primal Pro Monthly$69.991 Month
  • Primal Premium Yearly$69.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Primal Pro Yearly Subscription$749.991 Year
One-time1
  • Prepaid Nostr Zaps$4.99
None

FreeFrom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Primal free?
Primal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FreeFrom free?
FreeFrom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Primal or FreeFrom?
Primal is rated higher. Primal averages 4.9 out of 5 from 937 ratings, while FreeFrom averages 4.2 from 24 ratings.
Do Primal or FreeFrom have ads?
FreeFrom shows ads; Primal does not.
Which is updated more often, Primal or FreeFrom?
Primal ships an update every 2 weeks, and FreeFrom every 8 days. Most recently, Primal was updated on November 3, 2026 and FreeFrom on November 3, 2026.

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