Comparison

ChatSecure Messenger vs Threema. The Secure Messenger

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

Head to head
About

ChatSecure Messenger

This free and open source messaging app provides secure, end-to-end encrypted conversations using OTR and OMEMO over the XMPP protocol. It offers interoperability with other XMPP clients and uses well-known cryptographic libraries for privacy.

Highlights
  • OTR encryption
  • OMEMO encryption
  • XMPP protocol
  • TLS certificate pinning
  • SQLCipher local encryption
  • Open source
Features
Read full description

ChatSecure is a free and open source messaging app that features OTR and OMEMO encryption over XMPP. You can create new accounts on public XMPP servers, or even connect to your own server for extra security. Unlike other apps that keep you stuck in their walled garden, ChatSecure is fully interoperable with other clients that support OTR, OMEMO and XMPP. ChatSecure only uses well-known open source cryptographic libraries to keep your conversations private. Other apps may make claims about 'military grade' security but, without publicly auditable source code and verifiable end-to-end encryption, you cannot be truly safe. * XMPP with TLS certificate pinning. * OTR for verifiable end-to-end encryption and forward secrecy. * OMEMO for a mobile-friendly alternative to OTR. * SQLCipher to locally encrypt conversation logs. * Free and Open Source: https://github.com/chatsecure/chatsecure-ios Follow @ChatSecure on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chatsecure ►► ChatSecure Donations Subscribe to ChatSecure to help make developing free and open source privacy tools sustainable. We welcome any contribution to support ongoing development. The donation levels are currently $2.99/month, $5.99/month or $19.99/month. Here's what you get: • Feel good supporting indie software • Continued development and updates • Help keep the app free for everyone To manage your subscription: • You can turn off auto-renewal via the main Settings app: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098 • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Visit the following URL to view our Privacy Policy: https://chatsecure.org/privacy/ • Visit the following URL for full terms of use: https://chatsecure.org/terms/

About

Threema. The Secure Messenger

This secure messenger prioritizes privacy with end-to-end encryption for all communications. It uses a unique ID instead of personal information, leaving no data trail and offering anonymous use. Enjoy private chats, calls, and file sharing without ads or trackers.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted chats and calls
  • Anonymous use with Threema ID
  • File sharing in all formats
  • Edit and delete sent messages
  • Desktop app and web client
  • Group creation and polls
Features
Read full description

Threema is the world’s best-selling secure messenger, used by more than 12 million people in over 175 countries, developed in Switzerland, and designed with privacy and data protection in mind. Whether chats, calls, or files, everything is end-to-end encrypted, and no data trail is left behind. Instead of a phone number or email address, a randomly generated Threema ID serves as a unique identifier – anonymous and secure. Threema protects what really matters: your privacy. Advantages of Threema: • Text and voice messages, including emoji reactions • End-to-end encrypted voice, video, and group calls • Location sharing • Sending files in all formats (PDF, GIF, MP3, ZIP, and more) • Ability to edit sent messages and delete them for chat partners • Desktop app and web client for convenient chatting on your PC • Group creation and polls • Light or dark mode • No ads, no trackers, no data collection • Identity verification of contacts by scanning their QR code Reliable security: • Open source and regular audits • Servers in Switzerland • Anonymous use possible: no phone number or email address required • Messages are deleted from the server immediately after delivery Do you have any questions or problems? Our FAQ can help: https://threema.com/support Enjoy using Threema!

Screenshots

ChatSecure Messenger4 screens
Threema. The Secure Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChatSecure Messenger at Free against Threema. The Secure Messenger's $6.99. ChatSecure Messenger also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Threema. The Secure Messenger's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On rating, ratings volume and ads 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

ChatSecure Messenger is free to download; Threema. The Secure Messenger costs $6.99 up front. ChatSecure Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Threema. The Secure Messenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for ChatSecure Messenger against 4.2 for Threema. The Secure Messenger. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 281 and 723 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of ChatSecure Messenger's written reviews are positive against 62% of Threema. The Secure Messenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChatSecure Messenger ships an update every 2 months, Threema. The Secure Messenger every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
ChatSecure Messenger versus Threema. The Secure Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChatSecure MessengerThreema. The Secure Messenger
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating4.2 (281 ratings)4.2 (723 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.7% of reviews62.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings281723 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#1 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris BallingerThreema GmbH

Customer experience

ChatSecure Messenger

All ratings281 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral7.8%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive51.7%
Neutral13.6%
Negative34.7%

Threema. The Secure Messenger

All ratings720 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral5.4%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews656 reviews
Positive62.0%
Neutral16.0%
Negative22.0%

User reviews

ChatSecure Messenger

From 281 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app
  • 🔒 Secure chat
  • 👍 Intuitive setup
  • 🚀 Reliable
  • 👍 Excellent service

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes often
  • 🐛 Buggy
  • 🐛 Notifications not working
  • 🐛 Messages not syncing
  • 🐛 Stability issues

Threema. The Secure Messenger

From 723 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 Secure messaging
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Fast and reliable
  • 💡 Anonymous ID instead of phone number
  • 🔒 Based in privacy-friendly Switzerland

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable video/voice calls
  • 🐛 Inconsistent notification delivery
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes after updates
  • 🔒 Lack of auto-delete/expiring messages
  • 👎 Limited emoji/reaction options

Bugs and requests

ChatSecure Messenger

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Fails to send messages
  • Notifications not working
  • Syncing issues across devices
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add group chat support
  • Improve background support
  • Add search functionality
  • Customization options
  • Improve message delivery reliability
Show 1 more
  • Restore Tor support

Threema. The Secure Messenger

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Messages not sending or receiving
  • App freezing or crashing
  • Unreliable video/voice call functionality
  • Notification issues after updates
  • Data transfer problems when switching devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add auto-delete/expiring message option
  • Improve video/voice call reliability
  • Enhance notification system
  • Expand emoji/reaction options
  • Simplify data transfer to new devices
Show 1 more
  • Add iPad/desktop app support

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ChatSecure Messenger

Subscriptions3
  • $2.99 Donation$2.991 Month
  • $5.99 Donation$5.991 Month
  • $9.99 Donation$9.991 Month
None

Threema. The Secure Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChatSecure Messenger free?
ChatSecure Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Threema. The Secure Messenger free?
Threema. The Secure Messenger costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ChatSecure Messenger or Threema. The Secure Messenger?
Threema. The Secure Messenger is rated higher. ChatSecure Messenger averages 4.2 out of 5 from 281 ratings, while Threema. The Secure Messenger averages 4.2 from 723 ratings.
Do ChatSecure Messenger or Threema. The Secure Messenger have ads?
Neither ChatSecure Messenger nor Threema. The Secure Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChatSecure Messenger or Threema. The Secure Messenger?
ChatSecure Messenger ships an update every 2 months, and Threema. The Secure Messenger every 11 days. Most recently, ChatSecure Messenger was updated on October 23, 2026 and Threema. The Secure Messenger on October 26, 2026.

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