# Germ DM vs Wave

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Germ DM | Wave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/germ-dm/id6446882771/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-secure-messaging/id6755153686/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Germ Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679507064) | [Simhadri Bogula](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797254968) |

## 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


### Wave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-secure-messaging/id6755153686)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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