Threema. The Secure Messenger vs Chatlee
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Threema. The Secure Messenger
This secure messenger prioritizes privacy with end-to-end encryption for all communications and file sharing. It uses a unique ID for anonymous use, eliminating the need for phone numbers or emails. Enjoy private chats, calls, and file transfers with no ads or data collection.
- End-to-end encrypted chats and calls
- Anonymous Threema ID
- File sharing
- Edit/delete sent messages
- Desktop and web client
- Group creation and polls
- Identity verification via QR code
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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!
Chatlee
This platform integrates messaging, a social feed, and community channels into a single application. Users can communicate privately, share content, and engage with others while earning tokens for their activity. It offers a secure and intuitive all-in-one experience for social interaction and content creation.
- Private and group chats
- Channels and communities
- Social feed with posts, likes, and comments
- Earn tokens for activity
- Modern encryption for security
- Clean and modern interface
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Chatlee brings messaging, a social feed and channels together in one app. Chat with friends, follow creators and join communities without switching between services. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT • Personal chats are end-to-end encrypted — the keys stay on your devices • Secret chats and groups with disappearing messages • Auto-delete timer for any chat • App lock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode • Sign in without a password MESSAGING • Personal chats, groups and channels • Voice and video calls • Voice messages, photos, videos and files • Reply right from a notification • Your chats on all your devices FEED & COMMUNITIES • Posts, photos and short videos • Stories • Likes, comments and reposts • New communities and trends to discover FOR CREATORS • Grow your audience with posts, stories and channels • Creator Program: get rewarded for content people value Chatlee — one place for conversations, content and community.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Chatlee at Free against Threema. The Secure Messenger's $6.99. Chatlee also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (100% vs 62%). Threema. The Secure Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (728 vs 5) and chart position (#1 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Chatlee is free to download; Threema. The Secure Messenger costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Chatlee holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Threema. The Secure Messenger has 728 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Threema. The Secure Messenger's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chatlee's.
Threema. The Secure Messenger ships an update every 11 days, Chatlee every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Threema. The Secure Messenger | Chatlee |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (728 ratings) | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 728 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #1 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 75 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Threema GmbH | Mirrion Inc |
Customer experience
Threema. The Secure Messenger
Chatlee
Bugs and requests
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
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- Add iPad/desktop app support
Chatlee
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Threema. The Secure Messenger
No in-app purchases
Chatlee
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Threema. The Secure Messenger free?
Is Chatlee free?
Which has better reviews, Threema. The Secure Messenger or Chatlee?
Do Threema. The Secure Messenger or Chatlee have ads?
Which is updated more often, Threema. The Secure Messenger or Chatlee?
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