# BonChat vs Dark18

The clearest difference is rating: BonChat at 4.8 against Dark18's 3.7. BonChat also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). Dark18's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark18 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. BonChat asks for nothing beyond the download.

BonChat holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BonChat has 59K ratings behind it against 150, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of BonChat's written reviews are positive against 38% of Dark18's.

BonChat ships an update every 4 weeks, Dark18 weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BonChat | Dark18 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (59K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonchat/id6701998686/reviews)** | [3.7 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark18/id6749346497/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **59K** | 150 |
| Positive reviews | **55.7% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 77 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hong Kong CipherChat Tech Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769526889) | [Ana Lucila Gomez Navarro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830136813) |

## What reviewers say

### BonChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonchat/id6701998686)

This app offers secure messaging and file sharing with state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption. It provides options for private or on-premise server deployment, advanced group management, and a user-friendly interface. Enjoy seamless cross-platform communication with full control over your data.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Private/on-premise server deployment, Advanced group management, User-friendly interface, Cross-platform support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful training
- 💡 Useful updates and news
- 🔒 Safe and secure communication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inadequate training
- 🐛 Difficult to use
- 💬 Feature poor (can't hide online status, keyboard hides text area)

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add read receipts (two checkmarks when message is read)
- Improve keyboard and text area usability


### Dark18

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark18/id6749346497)

A private messenger offering secure end-to-end encrypted chats, HD voice and video calls, and community groups. Share updates through stories that disappear after 24 hours, all within a sleek, dark-themed interface. It's designed for users who prioritize privacy and freedom in their communication.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, HD voice and video calls, Private and public groups, 24-hour disappearing stories, Dark-themed interface, Secure sync across devices

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Access | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Access | $90.99 | per year |
| Weekly Premium Access | $5.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Premium Access | $8.99 | one-time |
| Yearly Premium Access | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BonChat free?

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

### Is Dark18 free?

Dark18 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BonChat or Dark18?

BonChat is rated higher. BonChat averages 4.8 out of 5 from 59K ratings, while Dark18 averages 3.7 from 150 ratings.

### Do BonChat or Dark18 have ads?

Dark18 shows ads; BonChat does not.

### Which is updated more often, BonChat or Dark18?

BonChat ships an update every 4 weeks, and Dark18 weekly. Most recently, BonChat was updated on September 25, 2026 and Dark18 on September 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*