Monal vs Sphere Chat
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
Sphere Chat
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「Sphere」は、リアルタイム翻訳・AI機能を備えた、チームの業務効率を高めるチャットアプリです。海外メンバーとのやり取りや外国語の情報収集をスムーズにし、言語の壁を越えたコミュニケーションを実現します。AIが最適なツールや情報を提案してくれるため、タスクに集中できる環境をサポートします。無料プランから始められ、必要に応じて機能を拡張できます。 〜サブスクリプションについて〜 サブスクリプションは毎月自動更新され、キャンセルしない限り継続されます。購読の管理および自動更新の解除は、App Storeのアカウント設定から行えます。 ■利用規約（Apple Standard EULA） https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Monal at none against Sphere Chat's 2. Monal also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Sphere Chat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Monal asks for nothing beyond the download.
Monal ships an update monthly, Sphere Chat every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Monal | Sphere Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (133 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 133 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 99 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thilo Molitor | LiVrA Inc. |
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
Sphere Chat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Monal
No in-app purchases
Sphere Chat
- Personal Standard Plan$11.991 Month
- Sphere Personal Plus Plan$24.991 Month
