Linphone vs Element X
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Linphone
This open-source application provides free audio and video calls, as well as text messaging, over the internet. It allows users to stay reachable at all times via WiFi or mobile data, even when the app is closed. Enjoy secure communication and the ability to connect with traditional phone lines.
- High definition audio and video calls
- Audio conference calls
- Picture and file sharing
- Push notifications for reachability
- Secure communication with encryption
- SIP-compliant VoIP service integration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Linphone is an open source internet SIP phone or Voice Over IP phone (VoIP). Linphone is an open source app offering free audio/video calls and text messaging. With Linphone, you can be reachable at any time, even if the app is closed, with a WiFi or 3G/4G internet connection. Linphone key features: * high definition audio and video calls * audio conference calls with various participants * pictures and file sharing * Linphone accounts reachable at any time, even if the app is closed (thanks to push notifications) * secure communication (encryption options) * compliant with a large number of SIP-compatible VoIP service providers allowing to reach everyone that has a "classic" phone line. Linphone is available on the main mobile and desktop operating systems and offers various specific features for advanced users (codecs, transport standard, encryption options, DTMF...). For more information, see Linphone project website: www.linphone.org Note for developers and professionals: Linphone can be rebranded and customized to meet specific needs. Contact Belledonne Communications www.belledonne-communications.com for any specific development query.
Element X
Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.
- Real-time messaging
- Video calls
- Public and private rooms
- Rich messaging features
- Cross-device synchronization
- Data ownership and server choice
Read full descriptionHide full description
Freedom to communicate on your own terms For individuals and communities - private communication between family, friends, hobby groups, clubs, etc. Element X gives you fast, secure and private instant messaging and video calls built on Matrix, the open standard for real-time communication. This is a free and open-source app maintained at https://github.com/element-hq/element-x-ios Stay in touch with friends, family and communities with: • Real time messaging & video calls • Public rooms for open group communication • Private rooms for closed group communication • Rich messaging features: emoji reactions, replies, polls, pinned messages and more. • Video calling while browsing messages. • Interoperability with other Matrix-based apps such as FluffyChat, Cinny and many more. Privacy-first Unlike some other messengers from Big Tech companies, we don’t mine your data or monitor your communications. Own your conversations Choose where to host your data - from any public server (the largest free server is matrix.org, but there are plenty of others to choose from) to creating your own personal server and hosting it on your own domain. This ability to choose a server is a large part of what differentiates us from other real time communication apps. However you host, you have ownership; it’s your data. You’re not the product. You’re in control. Communicate in real time, all the time Use Element everywhere. Stay in touch wherever you are with fully synchronised message history across all your devices, including on the web at https://app.element.io Element X is our next-generation app If you’re using the previous-generation Element Classic app, it’s time to try Element X! It’s faster, easier to use, and more powerful than the classic app. It’s better in every way and we’re adding new features all the time.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Element X at 3.4 against Linphone's 2.7. Element X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (162 vs 10). Linphone's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Element X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element X has 162 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Linphone's written reviews are positive against 39% of Element X's.
Linphone ships an update every 2 months, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Linphone | Element X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (10 ratings) | 3.4 (162 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.4% of reviews | 38.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 162 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 341 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Belledonne Communications SARL | Vector Creations Limited |
Customer experience
Linphone
Element X
Bugs and requests
Linphone
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on startup
- Incoming calls not working properly
- Settings not saving correctly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for multiple SIP accounts
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Provide more customization options
- Enhance audio quality and noise cancellation
Element X
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Linphone
No in-app purchases
Element X
No in-app purchases









