# Monal vs Chapter App

The clearest difference is rating: Chapter App at 5.0 against Monal's 3.7. Monal's advantage is ratings volume (140 vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Chapter App holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monal has 140 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, Chapter App every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monal | Chapter App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chapter-app/id1505522533/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **140** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508738269) | [Ricardo Cumberbatch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455104172) |

## What reviewers say

### Monal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500)

This open-source messenger provides a fast and user-friendly way to connect to the XMPP public chat network. Enjoy private, ad-free communication with end-to-end encryption and features like group chats and file sharing.

**Highlights:** Open Source, No Ads, OMEMO encrypted chat, Multi user chat (MUC), Audio/Video calls, File sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Secure XMPP client
- 👍 Best XMPP client on iOS
- 🚀 Robust and dependable
- 👍 Actively developed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Encryption problems
- 👎 Buggy UI and UX
- 🔍 Missing basic features (copy/paste, etc.)
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnects frequently
- Incompatible with some XMPP servers
- Crashes when sending messages
- Issues with loading contact lists

**Requested features**

- Add OTR/PGP encryption support
- Improve group chat functionality
- Allow customization of sounds and notifications
- Optimize for older iOS versions


### Chapter App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chapter-app/id1505522533)

Facilitates efficient communication within local chapters, organizations, or HOAs. Connect with members, view events, access documents, and receive important alerts. Manage payments for dues and events seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Member directory with direct contact options, Group and individual chat, View and download documents, Event notifications and RSVPs, Payment processing for dues and events, Customizable for your organization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monal free?

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

### Is Chapter App free?

Chapter App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monal or Chapter App?

Chapter App is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while Chapter App averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Monal or Chapter App have ads?

Neither Monal nor Chapter App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monal or Chapter App?

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, and Chapter App every 4 months. Most recently, Monal was updated on October 16, 2026 and Chapter App on October 4, 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.*