Comparison

SkyText vs Threema OnPrem

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

Head to head
About

SkyText

Type messages on your device and display them as scrolling text in real time. Ideal for noisy environments or when silent communication is needed. Offers preset messages and customizable display options.

Highlights
  • Real-time scrolling text display
  • Silent communication
  • Preset message storage and editing
  • Day/night color themes
  • Automatic scrolling on orientation change
  • Supports upside-down display
Features
Read full description

SkyText is the premier text-scrolling application for the iPhone and iPod Touch from Heynow Software. SkyText allows you to type messages on your touch device and display them instantly as scrolling text on its screen. In real time. All from one screen. Here's how it works: 1. Hold your iPhone/iPod Touch in portrait orientation and type text on the keyboard, just like text messaging. 2. Raise your hand (the one holding the device) and face the screen toward the person that you want to display the message to, in landscape orientation. SkyText uses the accelerometer to sense the change in orientation and automatically scrolls the message. That's it. Quick and easy. The way it should be. When would you use SkyText? • In a loud, crowded bar • A hottie is looking at you from a distance and you want to break the ice • You've become thirsty • Your buddy is a the end of the bar, and you just need to taunt him • At a concert • On the golf course • At the airport • At a sporting event • In the parking lot, picking up your kids after a concert • At the beach • In the library • At the race track • While hunting or fishing • Six of you are going skiing, 3 people each in 2 cars. Cell reception is spotty, you need to communicate and don't want to "scream & freeze" • You're a sound engineer and you need to tell the guitar player to turn down • You're in church and need to discreetly tell the reverend that his fly is unzipped • Anywhere you need to communicate with somebody and: • They are unable to hear you • You need to get their attention • You can't get to them • You can't make a sound but want to get a message across When would *you* use SkyText? And, in case you're wondering: √ Yes, after the message ends there's a brief delay, you get a single vibration, and the message scrolls again. √ Yes, when you bring your hand back down, SkyText has cleared the text-entry box and the cursor is blinking, ready for you to type your next message.    √ Yes, if you want re-display the last message, it's still available on the screen. Just tap on it to display it again. √ Yes, you can store messages as preset messages and quickly select them for display with one tap. √ Yes, you can also edit a preset message quickly and display it, with or without saving the edits to the preset itself! √ Yes, you can quickly go between hand-typing and preset messages on the same screen. √ Yes, there are two font/background color combinations for day and night display, quickly accessible on the screen. √ Yes, we know some people are left-handed. SkyText scrolls the text properly regardless of which way you turn it into landscape. You can even flip your phone upside down once it's scrolling, and watch the fun. We put a lot of time and effort into SkyText because, frankly, you shouldn't have to. We're Heynow.

About

Threema OnPrem

This secure messaging solution offers organizations complete data sovereignty by hosting on their own servers. It provides end-to-end encrypted communication for teams, including voice and video calls, and secure file sharing, all protected by PIN or fingerprint.

Highlights
  • Self-hosted solution
  • Complete data sovereignty
  • End-to-end encrypted calls
  • Secure file sharing
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • PIN/fingerprint chat protection
Features
Read full description

Threema OnPrem is the self-hosted communication solution for organizations with the highest security requirements. The combination of Threema’s proven security architecture and complete data sovereignty creates an independent communication environment that is unmatched in terms of confidentiality – ideal for government agencies, police forces, and industrial companies. Advantages of Threema OnPrem: • 100% data sovereignty through hosting on your own servers • Proven Threema security architecture • Confidential communication in teams, groups, and projects • End-to-end encrypted voice and video calls • Secure exchange of files and documents in all formats • Cross-platform use thanks to mobile app, desktop app, and web client • Additional protection of confidential chats with PIN or fingerprint NOTE: Before you can use this app, Threema OnPrem must be set up on your company server. For more information, visit threema.com/onprem. Enjoy using Threema OnPrem!

Screenshots

SkyText3 screens
Threema OnPrem4 screens

Verdict

The call

SkyText and Threema OnPrem both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of SkyText's written reviews are positive against 0% of Threema OnPrem's. SkyText also leads on chart position (#85 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Threema OnPrem's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 21 months). On rating, ratings volume, 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

Threema OnPrem is free to download; SkyText costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SkyText against 5.0 for Threema OnPrem. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of SkyText's written reviews are positive against 0% of Threema OnPrem's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyText ships an update every 21 months, Threema OnPrem every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
SkyText versus Threema OnPrem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyTextThreema OnPrem
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews82.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#85 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHeynow SoftwareThreema GmbH

Customer experience

SkyText

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

Threema OnPrem

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

SkyText

No in-app purchases

None

Threema OnPrem

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SkyText free?
SkyText costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Threema OnPrem free?
Threema OnPrem is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SkyText or Threema OnPrem?
SkyText and Threema OnPrem are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do SkyText or Threema OnPrem have ads?
Neither SkyText nor Threema OnPrem shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SkyText or Threema OnPrem?
SkyText ships an update every 21 months, and Threema OnPrem every 10 days. Most recently, SkyText was updated on October 15, 2026 and Threema OnPrem on October 12, 2026.

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