Monal vs Linphone
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Open Source
- No Ads
- OMEMO encrypted chat
- Multi user chat (MUC)
- Audio/Video calls
- File sharing
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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
Linphone
This open-source app provides free audio/video calls and text messaging over the internet. It allows users to be reachable at any time via WiFi or mobile data, offering secure communication and file sharing. Advanced users can customize various settings for SIP-compatible VoIP services.
- High definition audio/video calls
- Audio conference calls
- Picture and file sharing
- Always reachable with push notifications
- Secure communication options
- SIP-compatible VoIP integration
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Linphone is an open source internet SIP phone or Voice Over IP phone (VoIP). Linphone is an open source app offering free audio/video calls and text messaging. With Linphone, you can be reachable at any time, even if the app is closed, with a WiFi or 3G/4G internet connection. Linphone key features: * high definition audio and video calls * audio conference calls with various participants * pictures and file sharing * Linphone accounts reachable at any time, even if the app is closed (thanks to push notifications) * secure communication (encryption options) * compliant with a large number of SIP-compatible VoIP service providers allowing to reach everyone that has a "classic" phone line. Linphone is available on the main mobile and desktop operating systems and offers various specific features for advanced users (codecs, transport standard, encryption options, DTMF...). For more information, see Linphone project website: www.linphone.org Note for developers and professionals: Linphone can be rebranded and customized to meet specific needs. Contact Belledonne Communications www.belledonne-communications.com for any specific development query.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Monal at 3.7 against Linphone's 2.7. Monal also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 35%) and ratings volume (141 vs 10). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Monal holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monal has 141 ratings behind it against 10, 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 35% of Linphone's.
Monal ships an update monthly, Linphone every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Monal | Linphone |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (141 ratings) — better | 2.7 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews — better | 35.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 141 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor | Belledonne Communications SARL |
Customer experience
Monal
Linphone
User reviews
Monal
From 141 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Secure XMPP client
- 👍 Best XMPP client on iOS
- 🚀 Robust and dependable
- 👍 Actively developed
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Encryption problems
- 👎 Buggy UI and UX
- 🔍 Missing basic features (copy/paste, etc.)
- 🔋 High battery consumption
Linphone
From 10 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Good call quality
- 🚀 Works well with SIP providers
- 💡 Useful features like DTMF support
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy, crashes frequently
- 🔑 Issues with account setup and configuration
- 🔒 Security concerns with password handling
- 🔋 Unreliable background/push notification support
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
Linphone
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on startup
- Incoming calls not working properly
- Settings not saving correctly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for multiple SIP accounts
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Provide more customization options
- Enhance audio quality and noise cancellation
In-app purchases
Monal
No in-app purchases
Linphone
No in-app purchases









