Comparison

Easy PGP vs Cipher Message

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Easy PGP

This app provides robust PGP encryption and decryption for mobile devices. It allows users to generate, import, and export keys, encrypt and decrypt messages, and digitally sign and verify content, all while operating completely offline for maximum privacy.

Highlights
  • PGP key pair generation
  • Key import/export
  • Message encryption/decryption
  • Digital signatures
  • Signature verification
  • Offline operation
  • Secure key storage
Features
Read full description

Easy PGP brings PGP encryption to your phone without the usual complexity. Protect sensitive messages, verify that a message really came from who it claims, and keep your keys under your own control. YOUR KEYS STAY ON YOUR DEVICE Key generation, encryption, decryption, signing and verification all run locally. Your keys and your messages are never uploaded anywhere. There is no account and no sign-in. BUILT FOR PEOPLE, NOT JUST EXPERTS A clear interface that does not assume you already know what a keyring is. Available in 20 languages. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Generate PGP key pairs Create a new key pair with the encryption settings you want. - Import and export keys Bring in keys you already have, or export yours for backup and for use on another device. - Encrypt and decrypt messages Protect a message with a recipient's public key, and open messages sent to you with your private key. - Sign and verify Sign a message to prove it came from you. Check the signature on messages you receive. - Protected key storage Lock your key list behind a PIN or your device's biometrics. WITH THE ONE-TIME UPGRADE The upgrade removes ads and unlocks four more tools: - File encryption Encrypt, decrypt, sign and verify any file, not just text. - Password-based encryption Encrypt with a shared passphrase when you do not have the other person's key. - Encrypt and sign in one step - Decrypt and verify in one step WHO IT IS FOR Journalists protecting sources. Lawyers and doctors handling confidential material. Developers verifying releases. Anyone who would rather not hand their private messages to a third party. PRIVACY No account. No message or key ever leaves the device. Crash reporting is off by default and you can turn it on or off in settings. The app collects anonymous usage statistics to see which features are used. A NOTE ON OFFLINE USE All PGP work happens on your device and needs no connection. The free version shows a banner ad, which does need one. The upgrade removes ads, and after that the app has no reason to reach the network at all. PRICING Everything above under "what you can do" is free, with ads. The one-time upgrade removes the ads and unlocks the four extra tools listed above. No subscription, no recurring charge.

About

Cipher Message

Easily encrypt and decrypt messages within your messaging app using various classic ciphers. Protect your conversations with friends and upgrade for advanced encryption methods and Face ID unlock.

Highlights
  • Encrypt/decrypt in iMessage
  • Classic ciphers (Caesar, Vigenère)
  • Advanced ciphers (AES)
  • Face ID unlock
  • Private conversations
Read full description

Cipher Message is an App and iMessage Extension that lets you easily encrypt and decrypt messages right inside the Messages app. Choose from classic ciphers like Caesar and Vigenère, Rail Fence, or Playfair to protect your conversations, or upgrade to Premium to enable AES (password) and add Face ID to lock the message. Simply select your cipher, type your message, set your key, and then encrypted and send to your friends. They can decrypt your message using the same extension, keeping your chats private and fun. Features: - Encrypt and decrypt messages directly in iMessage - Supports Caesar, Vigenère, Rail Fence, and Playfair - Easy-to-use interface - Share encrypted messages with friends - Keep your conversations private Upgrade to Premium to enjoy: - No Ads - Additional Ciphers and Encryption Methods: - AES (set your own password) - Face ID Secondary Encryption (disclaimer: does not use FaceID to encrypt, only requires FaceID of recipient to unlock message)

Screenshots

Easy PGP4 screens
Cipher Message4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cipher Message at 5.0 against Easy PGP's 4.1. Easy PGP's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (26 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Easy PGP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cipher Message sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cipher Message holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Easy PGP has 26 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Easy PGP ships an update every 3 weeks, Cipher Message fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Easy PGP versus Cipher Message: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEasy PGPCipher Message
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (26 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB21 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSabri BASOGLUNathaniel Van Evera

Customer experience

Easy PGP

All ratings26 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative19.2%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.2%

Cipher Message

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Easy PGP

One-time1
  • Easy PGP Premium$5.99
1 purchases

Cipher Message

One-time1
  • Cipher Message Premium$0.99

Questions

Is Easy PGP free?
Easy PGP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cipher Message free?
Cipher Message is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Easy PGP or Cipher Message?
Cipher Message is rated higher. Easy PGP averages 4.1 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Cipher Message averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Easy PGP or Cipher Message have ads?
Cipher Message shows ads; Easy PGP does not.
Which is updated more often, Easy PGP or Cipher Message?
Easy PGP ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cipher Message fortnightly. Most recently, Easy PGP was updated on September 26, 2026 and Cipher Message on June 1, 2026.

Other comparisons