Monal vs Water Network
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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Water Network
Read full descriptionHide full description
TheWaterNetwork.com is the world’s largest open knowledge-sharing platform and professional community for water sector experts, companies, and individuals. The app is open to the general public and allows anyone to discover content, connect with professionals, and participate in discussions related to the global water industry. In addition, the platform offers optional SaaS-based digital workspaces that any user or organization can create and manage through a self-service registration process. These workspaces support collaboration, messaging, and content management and are available to all users without invitation or pre-approval. With over 14 years of experience, The Water Network provides scalable, cloud-based collaboration and knowledge-sharing tools for the global water community. Contact: contact@thewaternetwork.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Monal at 3 against Water Network's 1. Monal also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Monal ships an update monthly, Water Network every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Monal | Water Network |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (142 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 142 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor | AquaSPE AG |
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
Water Network
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Monal
No in-app purchases
Water Network
No in-app purchases
