# Germ DM vs Howcome

The clearest difference is update cadence: Howcome at every 2 days against Germ DM's every 10 days. Howcome also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, Howcome every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Germ DM | Howcome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/germ-dm/id6446882771/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **19** | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Germ Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679507064) | [Robert Thomas](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779758022) |

## 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


### Howcome

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/howcome/id6779758020)

**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 Howcome free?

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

### Do Germ DM or Howcome have ads?

Neither Germ DM nor Howcome shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Germ DM or Howcome?

Germ DM ships an update every 10 days, and Howcome every 2 days. Most recently, Germ DM was updated on September 27, 2026 and Howcome on October 5, 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.*