Zhi vs NOX Chat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zhi
This secure messaging app prioritizes privacy with zero-trust, end-to-end encryption and pre-shared keys. It offers isolated chats and invites only friends, with an optional subscription for enhanced features like larger file transfers and unlimited chats.
- Zero-trust end-to-end encryption
- Pre-shared key authentication
- Isolated chat environments
- Invite-only friend system
- Optional subscription for enhanced features
- Markdown support for messages
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Zhi - A Zero-Trust End-to-End Encrypted Instant Messaging App - Zhi is based on pre-shared keys, instead of generating keys through server intermediaries like other applications. - Zhi uses simple network protocols and encoding to more easily audit the content being transferred. - Zhi replaces metadata with random UUIDs. - Zhi makes every chat isolated. - Zhi only supports chatting with friends you've invited or those who have invited you. Zhi Plus - Zhi Plus is a subscription service. - The period of subscription is a about $4.99/month or $49.99/year. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - You can manage subscription in App Store Setting. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable What's included in Zhi Plus - You can enable markdown, the text messages you sent will be rendered in Markdown format. - You can use Meeting that is over TURN and end-to-end encrypted. - You can send a single text message of 30KB(after encrypted), while free users are limited to 3KB. - You can enable original image, the images sent will not be compressed and will be sent as original images. - You can send a single image of 10M, while free users are limited to 2M. - You can send a single image of 99M, while free users are limited to 10M. - You can send a single file of 99M, while free users are limited to 10M. - Unlimited number of Chats, while free users are limited to 100. - The server indefinitely stores the encrypted messages from Chats of Zhi Plus users. When forwarding the encrypted messages of a Chat, for free users the server will by default save them for 7 days to facilitate the users retrieving messages from the server when they come online from being offline or at other times. Note: The server's cleanup mechanism runs a scheduled cleanup task. If it is detected during the run that there are no Zhi Plus users in the Chat, the encrypted messages from more than 7 days prior within the Chat will be cleared. About Zhi Plus Even with the free version of Zhi, normal use is possible, and it does not compromise the feature of end-to-end encryption. Zhi Plus is a paid option that allows paying users access to more generous features, which compensates for some of our server costs, allowing us to continue to keep it free for everyone. By subscribing to Zhi Plus you agree to the policy and terms below. Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Service: https://www.txthinking.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://www.txthinking.com/privacy.html
NOX Chat
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NOX is community chat: servers with organised text channels and voice rooms, direct messages with friends, and voice and video calls with screen sharing, in one fast app. FEATURES - Servers and channels: build a community with text channels, categories, roles and moderation tools. - Voice rooms and calls: drop into a voice channel, or call a friend with voice, video and screen sharing. - Direct messages: one-on-one and group conversations, with files, voice notes, reactions and replies. - Profiles: avatars, banners, bios and themes. - Works across iPhone, iPad, the web and desktop with one account. PRIVACY - End-to-end encrypted calls: voice, video and screen share are encrypted on your device. Calls are never recorded. - End-to-end encrypted 1:1 and group direct messages, files included. - Encrypted servers: the owner of a private server (up to 100 members by default) can turn on end-to-end encryption for all its text channels. New members don't see earlier messages, and bots, search and AutoMod are off there. - Not end-to-end encrypted: public servers, servers without encryption, profiles, and metadata such as who talks to whom and when. A server's owner or NOX can turn its encryption off for new messages; members are always shown a notice. - No phone number or email needed to sign up. No ads, no tracking SDKs, no data sold. - Crash reports and analytics are off unless you turn them on. - Delete your account any time in Settings. SAFETY NOX has zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. Report any message or profile and block anyone from inside the app; reports are reviewed within 24 hours. Contact: support@nox-chat.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NOX Chat at none against Zhi's 2. NOX Chat also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Zhi sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NOX Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.
Zhi ships an update every 2 months, NOX Chat every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Zhi | NOX Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 141 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | TxThinking, Inc. | Mohammed Alnaimi |
In-app purchases
Zhi
- Zhi Plus Month$4.991 Month
- Zhi Plus Year$49.991 Year
NOX Chat
No in-app purchases









