# Duo Messenger vs Wave

The clearest difference is rating: Wave at 5.0 against Duo Messenger's 2.3. Duo Messenger's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). 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 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

Duo Messenger ships an update every 9 days, Wave every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Duo Messenger | Wave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duo-messenger/id6503286911/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-secure-messaging/id6755153686/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 44 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [JUSI PTE.LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659814629) | [Simhadri Bogula](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797254968) |

## What reviewers say

### Duo Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duo-messenger/id6503286911)

This secure messaging app prioritizes your privacy with end-to-end encryption and anonymous communication. It offers a clean, ad-free experience, allowing you to chat without revealing personal contact information.

**Highlights:** End-to-end message encryption, Anonymous communication via Duo Numbers, No ads or trackers, Private contact information, Secure data safeguarding

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

**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 Duo Messenger free?

Duo Messenger 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, Duo Messenger or Wave?

Wave is rated higher. Duo Messenger averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Wave averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Duo Messenger or Wave have ads?

Neither Duo Messenger nor Wave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Duo Messenger or Wave?

Duo Messenger ships an update every 9 days, and Wave every 4 weeks. Most recently, Duo Messenger was updated on October 15, 2026 and Wave on October 7, 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.*