Monal vs Zeko 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
Zeko Chat
Connect with friends through direct and group messages, or build communities with servers. Enjoy a secure, private, and fast messaging experience with a modern design.
- Direct Messaging
- Group Chats
- Communities & Servers
- Secure & Private
- Modern Design
- Fast & Reliable
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Welcome to Zeko Chat! This is the first official release of Zeko Chat for iOS - your new home for seamless communication and connection. KEY FEATURES: Direct Messaging - Connect with friends through one-on-one conversations Group Chats - Create group conversations and bring your crew together Communities & Servers - Join or create servers to build communities Secure & Private - Your privacy matters. We keep your conversations secure Modern Design - Beautiful design & interface with smooth animations Fast & Reliable - Optimized performance for the best messaging experience Join endless chats and connections; Zeko Chat is your place to vibe with friends! Thank you for choosing Zeko Chat! Happy chatting!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Monal at 3.7 against Zeko Chat's 3.0. Monal also leads on ratings volume (142 vs 5) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Zeko Chat's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Monal holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monal has 142 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of Monal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zeko Chat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Monal ships an update monthly, Zeko Chat every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Monal | Zeko Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (142 ratings) — better | 3.0 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 142 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor | Laszlo Horvath |
Customer experience
Monal
Zeko Chat
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
Zeko Chat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Monal
No in-app purchases
Zeko Chat
No in-app purchases
