# Freedom Chat vs Pickax

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pickax at none against Freedom Chat's 2. Pickax also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Freedom Chat's advantage is ratings volume (118 vs 18). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom Chat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Pickax asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pickax holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom Chat has 118 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Freedom Chat's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pickax's.

Freedom Chat ships an update weekly, Pickax every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom Chat | Pickax |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-chat/id6467161951/reviews) | **[5.0 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickax/id6748915865/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **118** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 51 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Freedom Chat, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657768359) | [Pickax](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822332996) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-chat/id6467161951)

This app offers secure, private messaging with end-to-end encryption and no server-side message storage. It allows for customizable interfaces, self-destructing messages, and screenshot alerts to protect user data.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, Self-destructing messages, Screenshot alerts, Unsend and edit messages, Customizable interface, Private news feed channels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $5.99/month | $5.99 | per month |
| $52.99/year | $52.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Great security and privacy
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 💡 No ads or data selling
- 👍 Large group chats supported

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login/sign-in issues
- 🐛 Upgrade not reflecting
- 🐛 App freezes during invites
- 🐛 Cannot close invite window
- 🐛 Acceptance button below screen

**Reported bugs**

- Login verification code not received
- Premium upgrade not visible after purchase
- App freezes when inviting contacts
- Cannot close the invite contact window
- Acceptance button is not visible/accessible on some devices

**Requested features**

- Improve login code delivery
- Ensure premium upgrade reflects immediately
- Fix app freezing during contact invites
- Resolve invite window closing issue
- Make acceptance button accessible on all devices


### Pickax

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickax/id6748915865)

This social platform prioritizes human connection with a chronological feed driven by real engagement, not algorithms. Follow creators, share content, and connect with authentic voices. It supports intentional interaction over automated control.

**Highlights:** Chronological-first feed, Follow people, creators, brands, Share posts and articles, Watch and share Rumble videos, Verified accounts for authenticity, Optional paid content for creators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom Chat free?

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

### Is Pickax free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freedom Chat or Pickax?

Pickax is rated higher. Freedom Chat averages 4.8 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Pickax averages 5.0 from 18 ratings.

### Do Freedom Chat or Pickax have ads?

Neither Freedom Chat nor Pickax shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom Chat or Pickax?

Freedom Chat ships an update weekly, and Pickax every 4 days. Most recently, Freedom Chat was updated on August 26, 2026 and Pickax on September 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.*