Comparison

Monal vs Cyper

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Open Source
  • No Ads
  • OMEMO encrypted chat
  • Multi user chat (MUC)
  • Audio/Video calls
  • File sharing
Features
Read 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

About

Cyper

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encryption for all communications, including voice chats and file sharing. It prioritizes user privacy by not tracking data or displaying ads, providing a clean and focused communication experience.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Live voice chat rooms
  • No data tracking
  • No targeted ads
  • Encrypted group chats
  • File sharing
Features
Read full description

Tired of data tracking and privacy risks? CyperChat is the private and secure messaging app you've been looking for. We believe real communication should be as confidential as a whisper. Complete Privacy with End-to-End Encryption: Every message, call, and file you send is protected by strong end-to-end encryption. This means no one can access your conversations except you and the intended recipient—not even us. Live Voice Chat Rooms: Create public or private voice rooms and speak live with anyone, from a few friends to a large audience. You can hold meetings, tell stories, or even have a stand-up comedy show without meeting in person. All conversations remain private and secure. No Data Tracking, No Ads: We do not collect your metadata (who you talk to, when, or for how long), we do not track your activity, and we serve no targeted ads. You are in full control of your digital footprint. Clean Experience, Full-Featured: Enjoy all the modern messaging features you need, including encrypted one-on-one and group chats, high-quality voice calls, and file sharing—all within a clean, intuitive interface designed for focused communication. Your Privacy. Our Promise. Rediscover the peace of mind that comes with truly private communication.

Screenshots

Monal4 screens
Cyper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cyper at 5.0 against Monal's 3.7. Cyper also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Monal's advantage is ratings volume (142 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cyper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monal has 142 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Cyper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monal ships an update monthly, Cyper every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Monal versus Cyper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonalCyper
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (142 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings142 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB184 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMolitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo MolitorMelon Pluto Technology Limited

Customer experience

Monal

All ratings142 ratings
Positive64.1%
Neutral8.5%
Negative27.5%
Written reviews222 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral12.6%
Negative29.7%

Cyper

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Cyper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Monal

No in-app purchases

None

Cyper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monal free?
Monal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cyper free?
Cyper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Monal or Cyper?
Cyper is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 142 ratings, while Cyper averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Monal or Cyper have ads?
Neither Monal nor Cyper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monal or Cyper?
Monal ships an update monthly, and Cyper every 2 weeks. Most recently, Monal was updated on November 6, 2026 and Cyper on November 5, 2026.

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