# Monal vs FluffyChat

The clearest difference is rating: FluffyChat at 4.0 against Monal's 3.7. Monal's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 48%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

FluffyChat holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 98 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Monal's written reviews are positive against 48% of FluffyChat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monal | FluffyChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500/reviews) | **[4.0 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluffychat/id1551469600/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 98 |
| Positive reviews | **56.9% of reviews** | 48.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 69 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Thilo Molitor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508738269) | [Christian Kussowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588770462) |

## 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

**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


### FluffyChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluffychat/id1551469600)

This open-source messenger app offers secure, decentralized communication with a user-friendly interface. It supports various message types, group chats, and advanced moderation features, all while prioritizing user privacy and a delightful experience.

**Highlights:** Send messages, images, and files, Voice messages and location sharing, Unlimited private and public group chats, Public channels with thousands of participants, End-to-end encryption, Encrypted chat backup, Discover and join public groups

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monal free?

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

### Is FluffyChat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Monal or FluffyChat?

FluffyChat is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while FluffyChat averages 4.0 from 98 ratings.

### Do Monal or FluffyChat have ads?

Neither Monal nor FluffyChat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monal or FluffyChat?

Monal ships an update monthly, and FluffyChat monthly. Most recently, Monal was updated on September 5, 2026 and FluffyChat on September 23, 2026.

---

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