# SideCast vs BlockStar Chat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BlockStar Chat at none against SideCast's 2. BlockStar Chat also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). SideCast's advantage is ratings volume (208 vs 5) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideCast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BlockStar Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

BlockStar Chat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SideCast has 208 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of SideCast's written reviews are positive against 100% of BlockStar Chat's.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideCast | BlockStar Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockstar-chat/id6733237528/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **208** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 92.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 156 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Alerion Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674500626) | [David Hunter](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771390103) |

## What reviewers say

### SideCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917)

Easily enlarge typed messages on your device screen for clear, silent communication from a distance. Use text or emojis to convey your message, then rotate your device to share it with anyone nearby. Perfect for loud environments or private conversations.

**Highlights:** Create instant signs and billboards, Enlarge typed messages, Use text and emojis, Rotate device for display, Silent and private communication, Voice-to-text support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SideCast upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective communication
- 💡 Useful for various noisy environments
- 🚀 Fast and snappier UX (recent updates)
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 💡 Great for communicating when unable to speak

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes too often
- 🐛 Does not rotate reliably
- 🐛 Pages run into each other
- 🐛 Timed out forcing upgrade
- 🐛 Not compatible with older iOS versions (historically)

**Reported bugs**

- Freezes too often
- Side cast does not rotate more often than not
- When it does rotate, the pages run into each other
- Doesn’t work with iOS 16 (prior to recent update)
- Timed out - forced to upgrade (specific instance)

**Requested features**

- Allow selection of text and background colors
- Remove time limit (mentioned once)


### BlockStar Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockstar-chat/id6733237528)

A decentralized messaging platform offering end-to-end encrypted conversations. Connect via direct messages or public/private group chats on a secure, blockchain-powered network that prioritizes user privacy and autonomy.

**Highlights:** Decentralized messaging, End-to-end encryption, Direct and group chats, Blockchain-powered security, Enhanced privacy controls, Seamless user experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideCast free?

SideCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BlockStar Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SideCast or BlockStar Chat?

BlockStar Chat is rated higher. SideCast averages 4.6 out of 5 from 208 ratings, while BlockStar Chat averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do SideCast or BlockStar Chat have ads?

SideCast shows ads; BlockStar Chat does not.

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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.*