# Message Makeover for iMessage vs Tacendum

The clearest difference is price: Tacendum at Free against Message Makeover for iMessage's $0.99. Tacendum also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 35 months). Message Makeover for iMessage's advantage is ratings volume (35 vs 1) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Tacendum is free to download; Message Makeover for iMessage costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Tacendum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Message Makeover for iMessage has 35 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Message Makeover for iMessage ships an update every 35 months, Tacendum every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Message Makeover for iMessage | Tacendum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-makeover-for-imessage-colorful-bubbles/id478730981/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tacendum-private-messaging/id6797617669/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 15.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Halligan](https://appshunter.io/developer/383018986) | [Mirana Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6797617671) |

## What reviewers say

### Message Makeover for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-makeover-for-imessage-colorful-bubbles/id478730981)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Paid · Social Networking (US App Store)

Tired of plain iMessages? This app lets you customize your message bubbles with vibrant colors and unique fonts. Make your conversations stand out with personalized backgrounds and text colors, and preview your creations before sending.

**Highlights:** Custom iMessage background color, Custom iMessage font color, Simple and intuitive interface, Message preview functionality, Direct launch to Messages app, Wide range of color options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Fun for holidays
- ✨ Impressive compliments
- 🎨 Match loved one's colors
- 👍 Works great
- 😍 Cute patterns

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Waste of money
- 🚫 Not integrated
- 😵 Too much work
- 🖼️ Sends as a picture
- 🐌 Slow to send

**Reported bugs**

- Letters too large
- Not compatible with later iOS versions
- Bubbles not same size
- Cannot receive messages
- Has to write message from app only

**Requested features**

- Set size of font
- Change default colors
- Integrated into iMessage
- Actual message bubble change
- Larger font size


### Tacendum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tacendum-private-messaging/id6797617669)

This app offers end-to-end encrypted private messaging, rooms, and calls without requiring any personal sign-up information. It prioritizes user privacy with features like disappearing messages and screenshot notifications.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted chats, rooms, and calls, No sign-up required (phone number, email, username, password), Disappearing messages with customizable timers, Screenshot disclosure and screen recording protection, App lock with decoy option, Optional findability via ID sharing or linked credentials

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Message Makeover for iMessage free?

Message Makeover for iMessage costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tacendum free?

Tacendum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Message Makeover for iMessage or Tacendum?

Tacendum is rated higher. Message Makeover for iMessage averages 3.5 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Tacendum averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Message Makeover for iMessage or Tacendum have ads?

Neither Message Makeover for iMessage nor Tacendum shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Message Makeover for iMessage or Tacendum?

Message Makeover for iMessage ships an update every 35 months, and Tacendum every 2 weeks. Most recently, Message Makeover for iMessage was updated on November 10, 2026 and Tacendum on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*