Comparison

Germ DM vs Wave

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

Head to head
About

Germ DM

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
Read full description

Private conversations, no strings attached. Germ is a default-closed end-to-end encrypted messenger. Sign in to chat with your Bluesky, Blacksky, and AT Protocol friends—or use a burner card and just share a name and photo. No phone number, no email, no pressure. Everything in Germ is completely private. It's end-to-end encrypted with post-quantum cryptography on the open source standard Messaging Layer Security. No one can access your content except the people you share it with—not even us. Germ DM lets you: - Share 1:1 texts and voice memos with best-in-class privacy - Use our App Clip to skip the App Store when launching chats - Log in with your ATProto account to message with friends from Bluesky, Blacksky, Mu.Social, Skylight, and more. Find your mutuals in Germ or start a chat from your profile on Bluesky - Build burner cards for friends you’re just getting to know - Authenticate who your messages are coming from - Mute groups of conversations at once by managing notifications by which card you shared Germ is carefully designed to put you in charge of your data and connections, and will never share your information outside your control. More features are dropping every month, and we want to hear from you! Find us on Bluesky at @germnetwork.com, or visit our website germnetwork.com for more ways to get in touch. Germ Network, Inc. is a proud Public Benefit Corporation.

About

Wave

A privacy-focused messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats without requiring sign-ups or personal information. It utilizes a decentralized network for enhanced user control and supports both one-to-one and group conversations.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • No sign-up required
  • Decentralized network
  • One-to-one and group chats
  • Optional Bluesky integration
  • Ad-free and tracker-free
Features
Read full description

Wave: Secure Messaging Wave is a privacy-first messaging app built for people who value security, simplicity, and control. Chat freely without signing up, sharing personal details, or trusting centralized servers. You can start messaging instantly. Wave uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the people you’re chatting with can read messages. Conversations are encrypted on your device and decrypted only by recipients. Powered by XMTP, Wave is built on a decentralized messaging network reducing reliance on central servers and giving users more control over their conversations. Wave supports fast one-to-one messaging and secure group conversations in a clean, minimal interface with no clutter or distractions. You can optionally connect your Bluesky account to message people you already know, or simply use Wave on its own without linking any account. Wave is designed with privacy at its core, with end-to-end encrypted messages, a privacy-first architecture, and no ads or trackers.

Screenshots

Germ DM4 screens
Wave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Wave at 5.0 against Germ DM's 4.6. Wave also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Germ DM's advantage is ratings volume (19 vs 1) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Germ DM has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, Wave every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Germ DM versus Wave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGerm DMWave
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (19 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings19 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB149 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperGerm Inc.Simhadri Bogula

Customer experience

Germ DM

All ratings19 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Wave

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Germ DM

No in-app purchases

None

Wave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Germ DM free?
Germ DM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wave free?
Wave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Germ DM or Wave?
Wave is rated higher. Germ DM averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Wave averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Germ DM or Wave have ads?
Neither Germ DM nor Wave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Germ DM or Wave?
Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, and Wave every 4 weeks. Most recently, Germ DM was updated on August 26, 2026 and Wave on September 6, 2026.

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