Comparison

Monal vs OTRx

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

OTRx

Read full description

OTRx-SDM is a private messaging app built for people who want conversations to feel truly “off the record”. Send self-destructing text messages that are end-to-end encrypted and automatically disappear after a short time, so your words don’t live forever on someone else’s phone. PRIVACY-FIRST, OFF-THE-RECORD CHATS • One-to-one text messaging with disappearing messages • Multiple privacy levels with different expiry timers • No media uploads – text only for a focused, low-risk experience • No ads, public profiles, or social discovery features END-TO-END ENCRYPTED & EPHEMERAL All chats are protected with end-to-end encryption between devices. We do not keep a permanent copy of user conversations. Messages are stored only in encrypted form and are removed once their selected timer has expired, so past chats are designed to disappear from both sides. SELF-DESTRUCTING MESSAGES Choose how long each message stays visible. A timer bar shows the remaining time and the selected privacy level. When the timer runs out, the message is cleared, helping you reduce the digital trace of your private conversations. Message previews are hidden from the chat list to reduce shoulder-surfing risks. SMART ACCESS & LOGIN • Fast phone-number login with OTP verification • Optional face-based sign-in on supported devices • Simple onboarding with name and phone number only • Ability to enable or disable biometric login at any time SECURE CHAT EXPERIENCE • Private chat list showing unread counts and privacy level, without message previews • Contact requests must be accepted before you can exchange messages • Per-message delivery and read indicators • Option to block users you no longer wish to receive messages from BUILT TO REDUCE DIGITAL TRACE OTRx-SDM is designed around the idea that sensitive conversations should be temporary: • Messages are temporary by default and disappear after the chosen timer • Screenshots, screen recording, screen sharing and screen mirroring are restricted inside the app • Tools to help users check whether they are in a more secure environment before messaging • Easy account and profile deletion from within the app JUST TEXT, NOTHING ELSE OTRx-SDM focuses on quiet, secure texting — no voice calls, video calls, photos, or file attachments. It is designed for users who care more about privacy and control than about broadcasting their lives. Learn more at https://otrx-sdm.com

Screenshots

Monal4 screens
OTRx4 screens

Verdict

The call

Monal and OTRx are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monal ships an update monthly, OTRx every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Monal versus OTRx: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonalOTRx
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (142 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings142 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB129 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMolitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo MolitorOTRx- SDM LLC

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

OTRx

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Monal

No in-app purchases

None

OTRx

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monal free?
Monal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OTRx free?
OTRx is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Monal or OTRx have ads?
Neither Monal nor OTRx shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monal or OTRx?
Monal ships an update monthly, and OTRx every 6 weeks. Most recently, Monal was updated on November 6, 2026 and OTRx on October 8, 2026.

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