# LimeChat vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is price: SimpleX Chat at Free against LimeChat's $4.99. SimpleX Chat also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (268 vs 11). LimeChat's advantage is chart position (#65 vs unranked) and review sentiment (65% vs 56%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

SimpleX Chat is free to download; LimeChat costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SimpleX Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 268 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of LimeChat's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

LimeChat ships an update every 5 weeks, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LimeChat | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.1 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/limechat-irc-client/id298766460/reviews) | **[4.3 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | **65.2% of reviews** | 56.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#65** | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Satoshi Nakagawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/289930656) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### LimeChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/limechat-irc-client/id298766460)

**Currently charting:** #65 Top Paid · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app provides a comprehensive IRC chat experience on mobile devices. It offers quick navigation, message highlighting, and support for multiple servers and channels. Enjoy seamless communication with features like automatic authentication and a built-in browser for links.

**Highlights:** Quick navigation with arrow buttons, Event indicators for other channels, Message highlighting and vibration, Visual user information (whois), Built-in browser for URLs, Multiple server and channel support, Automatic Nickserv authentication

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and lightweight IRC client
- 👍 Clean, intuitive, and simple user interface
- 🔒 Supports SSL connections and security features
- 📱 Works well on both iPhone and iPad
- 🎯 Reliable and stable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Keyboard jumping/positioning issues on iOS
- 🔌 Disconnects when app is backgrounded
- 🐛 Connection drops on WiFi and VPN
- ❌ No background connectivity/refresh
- 🐛 Scrolling issues after sending messages

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard jumps when sending messages (iOS 26.1)
- Scrolling breaks after message send
- App disconnects when backgrounded
- Connection drops on WiFi/VPN
- Keyboard doesn't appear on iPhone X

**Requested features**

- Background connectivity and app refresh
- Push/pop-up notifications
- Nick/username autocomplete
- Split view support for iPad
- Landscape mode


### SimpleX Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084)

This secure messaging app offers unparalleled privacy by eliminating user identifiers. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and files with features like disappearing messages and incognito mode. Connect via invitation links without needing phone numbers or emails.

**Highlights:** No user identifiers, End-to-end encrypted messages, Disappearing messages, Incognito mode, Encrypted file and voice messages, Secret chat groups, Encrypted portable chat database

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 End-to-end encryption and quantum-resistant security
- 🔐 No phone number or personal data required
- 👤 Anonymous profiles and multiple identities
- 🚀 Fast message delivery when working properly
- 🎯 Decentralized and open-source architecture

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
- 📬 Delayed or missing notifications (20+ minutes common)
- ⌨️ Keyboard issues on iOS (freezing, unresponsive)
- 🔌 Poor connectivity and message delivery failures
- 📱 iPad version not optimized

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (v6.2 update)
- Keyboard unresponsive on iOS 26
- Messages not appearing until app is opened
- Notifications not working despite correct settings
- Chat freezing and lag on iPhone

**Requested features**

- Read receipts option
- Typing indicators
- Bot maker feature like Telegram
- Multiple image attachment with descriptions
- Better emoji reaction selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LimeChat free?

LimeChat costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SimpleX Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LimeChat or SimpleX Chat?

SimpleX Chat is rated higher. LimeChat averages 3.1 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 268 ratings.

### Do LimeChat or SimpleX Chat have ads?

Neither LimeChat nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LimeChat or SimpleX Chat?

LimeChat ships an update every 5 weeks, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, LimeChat was updated on October 12, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 12, 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.*