Comparison

ZERO Messenger vs Umbera · Private Messenger

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

Head to head
About

ZERO Messenger

A secure and private messaging app built on decentralized architecture. It offers end-to-end encryption, Web3 integration, and no ads or surveillance. Reclaim your digital rights with this free, anonymous communication tool.

Highlights
  • Decentralized architecture
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Web3 wallet login
  • Token-gated chats
  • Cross-device access
  • No phone number required
  • Sleek and minimal design
Features
Read full description

Decentralized messaging for everyone. ZERO Messenger is secure, private, and free. No ads, no surveillance – reclaim your digital rights with ZERO. Decentralized - ZERO Messenger is built on decentralized architecture. Encrypted data is hosted on and shared between ZODEs; you can choose which ZODE will host your account, or you can run one of your own! Private - All conversations are end-to-end encrypted. No ads, no surveillance, completely anonymous; users are not required to provide personal data to create an account. Web3-Native - ZERO Messenger boasts Web3 (Ethereum) wallet login, identity verification with ZERO ID, the ability to create and join token-gated chats, and more. All Your Devices - Available on Web and Mobile. Access your conversations on all your devices. Secure Conversations of Any Size - Collaborate and share with individuals or groups of people in private, encrypted conversations. No Phone Number Required - Sign up with an Ethereum wallet and verify your identity with a ZERO ID. Sleek and Minimal - Designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Who are we? ZERO is a small startup empowering the citizens of our digital age with Web3 and decentralized technology. ZERO apps are built according to our values: Sovereignty, Decentralization, Security, Open Source, and Censorship Resistance.

About

Umbera · Private Messenger

Features
Read full description

Umbera is a private messenger for people who don't want their conversations tied to a phone number, an e-mail address or an address book. NO PHONE NUMBER. NO E-MAIL. NO CONTACT UPLOAD. Sign up with a login and a password - that is all. Umbera never asks for your phone number, never reads your contacts and never uploads your address book. In the app you are an anonymous address, not a number that ties back to you. SAFE BY DESIGN • People can message you only after you accept their contact request — there is no random matching with strangers and no public feed. • Report any message or user in two taps; the reported message disappears from your chat immediately. • Block anyone from the chat menu, a message or a contact card; block group members too. • Abusive messages, names and previews are hidden by a built-in filter. • Our moderation team reviews every report within 24 hours, removes objectionable content and suspends or permanently bans offending accounts. • Umbera is for adults 18+. Community rules: zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. END-TO-END ENCRYPTED CHATS AND FILES Messages, photos, files and voice notes are encrypted on your device before they leave it. The server only handles sealed data it cannot read, and removes it automatically after a limited time. Set messages to disappear on a timer when you need them gone. ENCRYPTED VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS Voice and video calls are encrypted end to end and connect device to device whenever the network allows. Group calls are supported. TOR IN ONE TAP Route the whole app through the built-in Tor client to hide your IP address from the server and from your network provider. APP LOCK Protect the app with a PIN, Touch ID or Face ID. Your conversation history lives on your device only - not in a cloud you do not control. UNDER THE HOOD - Messages and files: hybrid post-quantum encryption - ML-KEM-1024 together with X25519, ML-DSA (Dilithium) signatures and AES-256-GCM - designed to stay secure against future quantum computers. - Group chats use MLS (RFC 9420), the IETF standard for group encryption. - Sealed delivery: the server cannot read the content of a message or see who sent it. - The cryptographic core is published on GitHub for anyone to review - see umbera.app/proof. Official site: umbera.app · Safety & reports: abuse@umbera.app Umbera Premium is an auto-renewable subscription: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months of full access, with a free trial where offered. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://umbera.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://umbera.app/privacy

Screenshots

ZERO Messenger4 screens
Umbera · Private Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZERO Messenger at none against Umbera · Private Messenger's 4. Umbera · Private Messenger's advantage is update cadence (daily vs weekly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads and device support 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. Umbera · Private Messenger sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ZERO Messenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZERO Messenger ships an update weekly, Umbera · Private Messenger daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ZERO Messenger versus Umbera · Private Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZERO MessengerUmbera · Private Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB76 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperZero to Infinity, Inc.Vahe Aramyan

In-app purchases

None

ZERO Messenger

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Umbera · Private Messenger

Subscriptions4
  • Umbera Premium3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium 3 Months3 Days trial$13.493 Months
  • Premium 6 Months3 Days trial$24.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Premium 12 Months3 Days trial$41.991 Year

Questions

Is ZERO Messenger free?
ZERO Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Umbera · Private Messenger free?
Umbera · Private Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ZERO Messenger or Umbera · Private Messenger have ads?
Neither ZERO Messenger nor Umbera · Private Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZERO Messenger or Umbera · Private Messenger?
ZERO Messenger ships an update weekly, and Umbera · Private Messenger daily. Most recently, ZERO Messenger was updated on October 16, 2026 and Umbera · Private Messenger on October 9, 2026.

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