# Monal vs ginlo2

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Monal at 58% against ginlo2's 36%. ginlo2's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). 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.

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, ginlo2 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monal | ginlo2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (141 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **141** | — |
| Positive reviews | **57.7% of reviews** | 36.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508738269) | [ginlo.net Gesellschaft fur Datenkommunikationsdienste mbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1498033755) |

## 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


### ginlo2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ginlo2/id6450537075)

This secure messenger offers end-to-end encrypted conversations with an intuitive interface. It prioritizes user privacy and provides a seamless communication experience for everyone. Built and hosted in Germany, it ensures your data is protected without compromise.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Intuitive user interface, Ad-free experience, Made and hosted in Germany, Suitable for all ages, Robust data protection

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monal free?

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

### Is ginlo2 free?

ginlo2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Monal or ginlo2 have ads?

Neither Monal nor ginlo2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monal or ginlo2?

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, and ginlo2 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Monal was updated on October 20, 2026 and ginlo2 on October 19, 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.*