Comparison

Mumble vs BrightChat

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

Head to head
About

Mumble

This application offers high-quality, low-latency group voice chat for mobile devices. Connect to public or self-hosted servers to communicate with friends and other users globally. Enjoy features like push-to-talk, voice activation, and secure, encrypted connections.

Highlights
  • High quality, low latency voice chat
  • Access to thousands of public servers
  • SSL/TLS encryption
  • Push-to-Talk and Voice Activated modes
  • Text messaging
  • Echo cancellation
  • Bluetooth headset support
Features
Read full description

Mumble - High quality, low latency voice chat Mumble is a free group voice chat application. It allows you to talk to your friends on the go, and has finally arrived on the iOS platform. Simply find a public server and join it to chat with your friends! Mumble requires a connection to a server to function. Servers can be rented from commercial hosting companies. The Mumble server software is also available free-of-charge under and open source license, so individuals are free to create their own servers, without limitations. See https://www.mumble.info for more information regarding Mumble servers. Mumble provides the following features: • High quality, low latency voice chats via WiFi or 3G using state of the art codecs • Access to thousands of public servers -- free for you to use when chatting with friends • Ability to chat with hundreds of thousands of regular users of Mumble around the world • An easily accessible list of all of your favorite servers • Connect to and list available Mumble servers on the local network • SSL/TLS encryption of connections to remote servers; voice data encrypted using OCB2-AES128 • Strong and flexible authentication with remote servers using either passwords or X.509 certificates • Advanced audio configuration, allowing users to configure the quality and bandwidth requirements of their transmitted audio (perfect for 3G connections with slow upload) • Push-to-Talk and Voice Activated audio transmission modes (for hands-free operation) • Flexible user-to-user and user-to-channel text messaging system for sharing links or images while talking • Basic user functionality on Mumble servers (server administration not possible) • Push-to-talk transmission mode. • Echo cancellation for the built-in microphone. • Bluetooth headset support. Mumble is open source software, developed collaboratively on the Internet. Mumble and its server software are available for free, for anyone to use. For more information about Mumble, please visit our website at http://www.mumbleapp.com.

About

BrightChat

This app provides secure and private communication through end-to-end encrypted messaging and calls. It offers features like scheduled and disappearing messages, as well as group chats for staying connected with loved ones.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messages
  • Encrypted audio and video calls
  • Schedule messages
  • Disappearing messages
  • Group chats
Features
Read full description

BrightChat is a free, simple, and trusted messenger that connects anyone anywhere. Secure calls and messages based on state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption technology. Privacy and security are the core of our values. Respect for your privacy and protection of your data are our top priority. Every private message and call is secured by end-to-end encryption so that no one, including us, can read your messages or listen to your conversations except yourself and the intended recipients. Main features: * Secure messages with end-to-end encryption End-to-end encrypted messaging to give you peace of mind about your data security. * Encrypted real-time audio and video calls Crystal-clear audio & video let you hear your friends or family as if they were right there with you. * Scheduling messages Compose your messages ahead of time and choose when they get sent. You can send messages in advance, like friend's birthdays, or even schedule to send messages at midnight so that your friends can receive them in the morning. * Disappearing messages Set a timer that automatically deletes your messages after a certain interval. * Group Chats Use group chats to stay connected with friends and family.

Screenshots

Mumble4 screens
BrightChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BrightChat at 4.6 against Mumble's 3.1. BrightChat also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (75% vs 65%). Mumble's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, 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

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

BrightChat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 190 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Mumble's written reviews are positive against 75% of BrightChat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mumble ships an update every 4 months, BrightChat every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mumble versus BrightChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMumbleBrightChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (64 ratings)4.6 (190 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.9% of reviews75.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64190 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB98 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikkel KrautzShenXun Inc

Customer experience

Mumble

All ratings61 ratings
Positive54.1%
Neutral8.2%
Negative37.7%
Written reviews359 reviews
Positive64.9%
Neutral12.5%
Negative22.6%

BrightChat

All ratings189 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral5.8%
Negative18.8%

User reviews

Mumble

From 64 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great app
  • 🚀 Works flawlessly
  • 🚀 Excellent iOS implementation
  • 🚀 Intuitive controls
  • 🚀 Functioning in background

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Audio issues (static, cutting out)
  • 🔋 Heating up device
  • 🔒 Lack of security features (no mute/kick/ban)

BrightChat

From 190 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 Secure and private communication
  • 👍 Easy to use and clean interface
  • 🚀 Works smoothly for most users
  • 💰 Free to use
  • ✨ Gets better with updates

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable message sending/receiving
  • ⏳ Long delays in message delivery
  • ❌ Cannot receive verification codes
  • 🚫 No option to unblock users
  • 🐛 Bugs in group chat tagging

Bugs and requests

Mumble

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Incompatible with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to connect to servers
  • Freezing on login screen
  • Disconnects when switching networks

Requested features

7 requests
  • Push-to-talk option
  • Bluetooth headset support
  • Noise cancellation
  • Admin/moderation features
  • iPad-optimized UI
Show 2 more
  • Ability to change username
  • Whisper/shout functionality

BrightChat

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • Cannot receive verification codes (UK, +262)
  • Long delays in sending or receiving messages
  • Messages do not send or receive for long periods
  • Cannot unblock users
  • Delete user option not working
Show 10 more
  • Bug where @ tagging in group chats doesn't work on iPhone
  • Impossible to add members after last update
  • No landscape mode on iPad
  • Unable to connect using mobile data since version 1.20.37
  • Computer version login issues (password reset needed)
  • Contact disappeared on computer version
  • Words with 'pp' cannot be sent
  • Notifications received but app doesn't open or show information
  • All connections gone after upgrading
  • Cannot log in on iPhone after latest update (no next step after password)

Requested features

13 requests
  • Add parental controls (contact restrictions, website blocking)
  • Make secure internet app with parental controls
  • Make double checkmarks more visible
  • Add landscape mode for iPad
  • Allow viewing messages and attachments in landscape mode
Show 8 more
  • Add zoom functionality for messages/attachments
  • Implement a simple poll feature in group chats
  • Create a 'note to self' section
  • Add ability to draw in messages
  • Add possibility to directly respond to messages
  • Add night mode/different color themes
  • Add password login option for computer version
  • Allow editing sent text (contradicts other reviews)

In-app purchases

None

Mumble

No in-app purchases

None

BrightChat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mumble free?
Mumble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BrightChat free?
BrightChat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mumble or BrightChat?
BrightChat is rated higher. Mumble averages 3.1 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while BrightChat averages 4.6 from 190 ratings.
Do Mumble or BrightChat have ads?
Neither Mumble nor BrightChat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mumble or BrightChat?
Mumble ships an update every 4 months, and BrightChat every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mumble was updated on October 26, 2026 and BrightChat on October 24, 2026.

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