# Chalk vs dumb MESSAGE

The clearest difference is rating: dumb MESSAGE at 5.0 against Chalk's 4.4. dumb MESSAGE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). Chalk's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 1). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chalk sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. dumb MESSAGE asks for nothing beyond the download.

dumb MESSAGE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chalk has 28 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chalk ships an update every 9 months, dumb MESSAGE every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chalk | dumb MESSAGE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chalk-talk/id6618135297/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumb-message/id6789644646/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 21 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ouroboros Technologies, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761754104) | [Matt Jakob](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889098545) |

## 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 |


### dumb MESSAGE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumb-message/id6789644646)

Collaborate on a shared pixel canvas with friends in real-time. Draw, stamp images, or use dictation to add text to the evolving artwork. Experience a minimalist social interaction without feeds or typing indicators.

**Highlights:** Shared pixel canvas, Real-time drawing, Stamp images as pixels, Dictation to pixel text, Day and Night modes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chalk free?

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

### Is dumb MESSAGE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chalk or dumb MESSAGE?

dumb MESSAGE is rated higher. Chalk averages 4.4 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while dumb MESSAGE averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Chalk or dumb MESSAGE have ads?

Chalk shows ads; dumb MESSAGE does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chalk or dumb MESSAGE?

Chalk ships an update every 9 months, and dumb MESSAGE every 2 days. Most recently, Chalk was updated on November 4, 2026 and dumb MESSAGE 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.*