# Chalk vs Piko Chat

The clearest difference is ads: Piko Chat at none against Chalk's shown. Piko Chat also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 9 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chalk sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Piko Chat sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Piko Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Piko Chat has 2.9K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Chalk's written reviews are positive against 88% of Piko Chat's.

Chalk ships an update every 9 months, Piko Chat every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chalk | Piko Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chalk-talk/id6618135297/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piko-chat/id6760045658/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | **88.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 21 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ouroboros Technologies, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761754104) | [Ebonnee Almeida](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882489118) |

## What reviewers say

### Chalk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chalk-talk/id6618135297)

Connect with friends nearby through drawing and typing, no internet needed. Rediscover the fun of retro doodle chat for spontaneous conversations.

**Highlights:** Draw and chat with friends, Local, offline connectivity, Retro doodle interface, Type messages, Spontaneous conversations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rainbow Brush | $2.99 | one-time |


### Piko Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piko-chat/id6760045658)

Experience a nostalgic chat platform reminiscent of the early internet. Send pixel art notes, private letters, and engage in cozy themed rooms. Customize your profile and express yourself through drawings and reactions without the pressure of endless feeds.

**Highlights:** Send pixel art notes and private letters, Engage in themed 'pod' chat rooms, React to messages and keep conversations alive, Customize profile, status bar, and theme, Add optional public pins to a world map, No endless feed or influencer focus

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Piko Plus Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Piko Plus Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Piko Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Piko Plus Yearly Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Piko Plus Yearly Supporter | $24.99 | per year |
| Piko Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Piko Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| 100 Piko Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Piko Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 600 Piko Coins | $8.99 | one-time |
| Piko Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Piko Coins | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chalk free?

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

### Is Piko Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chalk or Piko Chat?

Piko Chat is rated higher. Chalk averages 4.4 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Piko Chat averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do Chalk or Piko Chat have ads?

Chalk shows ads; Piko Chat does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chalk or Piko Chat?

Chalk ships an update every 9 months, and Piko Chat every 5 days. Most recently, Chalk was updated on October 30, 2026 and Piko Chat on October 31, 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.*