# Colloquy vs SimpleX Chat

The clearest difference is price: SimpleX Chat at Free against Colloquy's $1.99. SimpleX Chat also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.8) and review sentiment (56% vs 39%). Colloquy's advantage is chart position (#31 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

SimpleX Chat is free to download; Colloquy costs $1.99 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 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleX Chat has 268 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Colloquy's written reviews are positive against 56% of SimpleX Chat's.

Colloquy ships an update fortnightly, SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Colloquy | SimpleX Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colloquy-irc-client/id302000478/reviews) | **[4.3 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-chat-secure-messenger/id1605771084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 39.3% of reviews | **56.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Colloquy Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/302000481) | [SimpleX Chat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605771086) |

## What reviewers say

### Colloquy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colloquy-irc-client/id302000478)

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Paid · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app brings the functionality of a popular desktop IRC client to your mobile device. It offers a full-featured experience optimized for on-the-go use with iOS multitasking and push notifications. Enjoy customizable settings, message highlighting, and robust IRC command support.

**Highlights:** Retina display support, iOS multitasking and split-screen, Push notifications with bouncer, Nickname and emoticon completion, Message highlighting and vibration, Customizable interface and behavior, WHOIS user information display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable connection
- 👍 Thoughtful design
- 🔒 Handles bouncer setup well
- 📱 Works great on iOS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to use for new users
- 🔋 Disconnects after inactivity
- 🔍 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Text entry box issues
- Inconsistent user list display
- Broken features after updates

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Longer background timeout
- Improved search and user list
- Better file transfer support


### 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 Colloquy free?

Colloquy costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SimpleX Chat free?

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

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

SimpleX Chat is rated higher. Colloquy averages 1.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while SimpleX Chat averages 4.3 from 268 ratings.

### Do Colloquy or SimpleX Chat have ads?

Neither Colloquy nor SimpleX Chat shows ads.

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

Colloquy ships an update fortnightly, and SimpleX Chat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Colloquy was updated on October 10, 2026 and SimpleX Chat on October 12, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*