Comparison

Monal vs Berty Messenger

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

Head to head
About

Monal

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
Read full description

There has never been a better time to get into XMPP, a free public chat network no one controls or owns. Monal is a fast and user friendly way to use XMPP. Just download the app, login or register and you are ready to chat in minutes. It looks and works the way other apps do, so there is no need to “learn XMPP” or even care what it is. Notable features: - Open Source - No Ads! Strong focus on privacy. Does not phone home and does not have software "metrics" - Does not read any personal information - With a direct connection to your server, your password and all other info are never sent to a third-party - OMEMO encrypted chat - Will work with corporate XMPP servers that require VPN - Multi user chat (MUC) support for group chats - Audio/Video calls Implements certain XMPP extensions intended to improve mobile communication: - XEP-0357: Push Notifications - XEP-0280: Message Carbons keep messages in synch between clients - XEP-0198: Stream Management to quickly reconnect - XEP-0199: XMPP Ping to maintain connections - XEP-0313: Message Archive Management to download chat history - XEP-0352: Client State Indication for dramatic reduction on power use - XEP-0363: HTTP File Upload to send images in conversations

About

Berty Messenger

This app offers secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging without central servers. It allows communication even without an internet connection, ensuring anonymity and protecting user metadata from surveillance.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • 100% decentralized P2P network
  • Completely anonymous user profiles
  • Metadata protection
  • Offline communication via Bluetooth
  • Group chats and media sharing
  • Voice message sharing
Features
Read full description

Berty makes privacy the easy option. Berty is an encrypted and offline peer-to-peer messenger with NO central server. Connect with or without an internet connection, message for free, and avoid surveillance and censorship. DISCLAIMER: Berty is fresh off the development line and hasn’t been audited yet. Please keep this in mind when exchanging data. END-TO-END ENCRYPTED MESSAGING In some countries, even a lol or a like can get you sent to jail. Berty is end-to-end encrypted - not even our developers could access your data, let alone corporations or governments. 100% DECENTRALIZED Just like blockchain technologies, Berty doesn’t pass your data through central servers - the place where internet service providers, hackers, and governments can intercept your data. Instead, Berty’s network is distributed, based on P2P direct messaging. COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS Berty couldn’t care less about who you are. You don’t need to provide your real name, an email, or a date of birth. You don’t even need a SIM card! PROTECT YOUR METADATA You might not know what metadata is, but WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat all collect it. This data can reveal a lot about you - so you’ll be glad to hear Berty is a messaging app alternative that collects as little metadata as humanly possible. COMMUNICATE WITHOUT TRADITIONAL NETWORKS Berty is made to work in the most challenging network conditions in the solar system. If governments, hackers, or natural disasters shut down cellular or internet networks, users can still make vital instant communications over Berty’s proximity Bluetooth feature. JOIN GROUP CHATS Berty is a full-featured instant messaging app. Create groups, chat securely, and share media with friends, family, and colleagues. SHARE VOICE MESSAGES Instantly send encrypted voice memos and audio files on Berty’s decentralized network. FREE FOREVER Privacy is a right for everyone, so Berty doesn’t profit from keeping you safe online. Created by an NGO, Berty will always be free and relies on the generous community to fuel development. TOGGLE BETWEEN ACCOUNTS Create different accounts to split your messaging identities by work, school, family - however, you want to categorize your messages! The Berty messaging app, built on the Berty Protocol, is designed, developed, and deployed by the French non-profit NGO, Berty Technologies. But Berty isn’t just decentralized in terms of its architecture - it’s also owned by the community, not a corporation interested in profits. The progress of Berty relies on developers testing and feeding back on our open source code, generous funding from funds and individual donors, and online and offline advocacy in the community. Documentation on Berty: https://berty.tech/docs Source Code: https://github.com/berty Join Berty’s Discord: Follow Berty on Twitter: @berty

Screenshots

Monal4 screens
Berty Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Monal at 3.7 against Berty Messenger's 3.1. Monal also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 32%) and ratings volume (142 vs 23). Berty Messenger's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Monal holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monal has 142 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Monal's written reviews are positive against 32% of Berty Messenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monal ships an update monthly, Berty Messenger every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Monal versus Berty Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonalBerty Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (142 ratings) — better3.1 (23 ratings)
Positive reviews57.7% of reviews — better32.3% of reviews
Number of ratings142 — better23
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB167 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperMolitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo MolitorBerty Technologies

Customer experience

Monal

All ratings142 ratings
Positive64.1%
Neutral8.5%
Negative27.5%
Written reviews222 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral12.6%
Negative29.7%

Berty Messenger

All ratings23 ratings
Positive43.5%
Neutral17.4%
Negative39.1%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive32.3%
Neutral32.3%
Negative35.5%

Bugs and requests

Monal

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Disconnects frequently
  • Incompatible with some XMPP servers
  • Crashes when sending messages
  • Issues with loading contact lists

Requested features

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

Berty Messenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Monal

No in-app purchases

None

Berty Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monal free?
Monal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Berty Messenger free?
Berty Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Monal or Berty Messenger?
Monal is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 142 ratings, while Berty Messenger averages 3.1 from 23 ratings.
Do Monal or Berty Messenger have ads?
Neither Monal nor Berty Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monal or Berty Messenger?
Monal ships an update monthly, and Berty Messenger every 2 months. Most recently, Monal was updated on November 10, 2026 and Berty Messenger on November 7, 2026.

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