# Germ DM vs Loops by Pixelfed

The clearest difference is update cadence: Germ DM at every 10 days against Loops by Pixelfed's every 3 months. Loops by Pixelfed's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Germ DM against 4.6 for Loops by Pixelfed. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 29 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Germ DM's written reviews are positive against 88% of Loops by Pixelfed's.

Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, Loops by Pixelfed every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Germ DM | Loops by Pixelfed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/germ-dm/id6446882771/reviews) | **[4.6 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loops-by-pixelfed/id6499375182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **29** |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 37 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Germ Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679507064) | [Daniel Supernault](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632519818) |

## What reviewers say

### Germ DM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/germ-dm/id6446882771)

This app offers end-to-end encrypted private messaging for users of Bluesky and ATProtocol. It prioritizes user control, privacy, and consent, allowing for secure 1:1 chats and temporary contact methods without requiring personal information.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted 1:1 messaging, Connects to ATProtocol accounts, Burner cards for temporary contacts, Authentication of message sources, Mute group conversations by card, No phone number or email required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Loops by Pixelfed

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loops-by-pixelfed/id6499375182)

Create and discover short videos on a decentralized network. Enjoy authentic content without ads, tracking, or algorithmic manipulation. Take control of your social media experience.

**Highlights:** Create short videos, Discover videos, Federated network, No ads, No tracking, Authentic content

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Germ DM free?

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

### Is Loops by Pixelfed free?

Loops by Pixelfed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Germ DM or Loops by Pixelfed?

Loops by Pixelfed is rated higher. Germ DM averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Loops by Pixelfed averages 4.6 from 29 ratings.

### Do Germ DM or Loops by Pixelfed have ads?

Neither Germ DM nor Loops by Pixelfed shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Germ DM or Loops by Pixelfed?

Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, and Loops by Pixelfed every 3 months. Most recently, Germ DM was updated on October 24, 2026 and Loops by Pixelfed on October 25, 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.*