Comparison

GPG Decrypt vs MessageCipher

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

Head to head
About

GPG Decrypt

Securely decrypt GPG-encrypted files on your iPhone or iPad. Transfer your encrypted documents and private key, then use the app to view sensitive content without permanent storage on your device.

Highlights
  • Decrypt GPG-encrypted files
  • Support for private key authentication
  • Secure file handling
  • Display-only decryption
  • Asymmetric encryption support
Features
Read full description

This app is designed to allow you to read on your iPhone, files that have been encrypted on your Mac using GPG. The workflow is: 1. Encrypt a file on your Mac using GPG (AEAD - Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data, is not supported at the moment, see support page). 2. Transfer the encrypted file and your private key to your iPhone (using iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other cloud storage service) 3. Use this app to decrypt and view the file content on your iPhone This is particularly useful for securely accessing sensitive documents on your iPhone without storing the decrypted content permanently on the device. Features - Decrypt GPG-encrypted files - Support for private key authentication - Secure file handling with security-scoped resources - Display-only decryption (no persistent storage of decrypted content) Usage 1. Select the encrypted file you want to decrypt 2. Select your private key file 3. Enter the passphrase for your private key 4. Tap "Decrypt" to decrypt the file 5. The decrypted content will be displayed on screen. It is not saved to your device. GPG ([GNU Privacy Guard](https://gnupg.org/)) is a widely used open-source implementation of the OpenPGP standard. This app only supports asymmetric encryption (public/private key). It cannot decrypt files that were encrypted using symmetric encryption (password-only encryption). Using GPG on Mac OS - Install GnuPG: brew install gnupg - Generate a new GPG key: gpg --full-generate-key - Choose option 1 (RSA and RSA) - Choose 4096 bits - Choose 0 (key does not expire) - Enter your name and email - Enter a secure passphrase - Export your private key (required for decryption on iPhone): gpg --export-secret-keys --armor your-email@example.com > private_key.asc - Replace `your-email@example.com` with the email you used when creating the key - Enter your passphrase when prompted - The private key will be saved to `private_key.asc` - Transfer this file to your iPhone for use with the app - Encrypting a file: gpg --encrypt --recipient your-email@example.com your_file.txt - This creates `your_file.txt.gpg` - Transfer this encrypted file to your iPhone for decryption with the app Decrypting a file on Mac: gpg --decrypt your_file.txt.gpg > decrypted_file.txt - This will prompt for your private key passphrase - The decrypted content will be saved to `decrypted_file.txt` Transferring files to iPhone You can transfer the encrypted file and private key to your iPhone using various cloud storage services: - iCloud Drive - Dropbox - Google Drive - OneDrive - Or any other cloud storage service that provides iOS file access Security - All file operations use security-scoped resources - Passphrase is never stored - Files are copied to the app's documents directory for processing - Decrypted content is only displayed and not saved to the device - No persistent storage of sensitive information

About

MessageCipher

Features
Read full description

MessageCipher is a simple and secure way to protect your messages. Encrypt any text with a key, share it safely, and decrypt it anytime with the same key. Key Features Encrypt text using a key you choose Decrypt messages with the correct key Copy & share encrypted output easily Protect sensitive notes before sending via chat or email Clean, fast interface designed for everyday use How It Works Type your message Enter a key Tap Encrypt and share the encrypted text The receiver enters the same key and taps Decrypt Privacy MessageCipher focuses on on-device encryption/decryption to help you keep your text private.

Screenshots

GPG Decrypt4 screens
MessageCipher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GPG Decrypt at none against MessageCipher's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. MessageCipher sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. GPG Decrypt asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GPG Decrypt ships an update every 3 days, MessageCipher every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 7 level
GPG Decrypt versus MessageCipher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGPG DecryptMessageCipher
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews0.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 3 days โ€” betterEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
MonetizationFreeโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS16.015.1 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size2 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLaurent AchThori Barker

In-app purchases

None

GPG Decrypt

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

MessageCipher

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$9.991 Month
  • Yearly premium$79.991 Year

Questions

Is GPG Decrypt free?
GPG Decrypt is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MessageCipher free?
MessageCipher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GPG Decrypt or MessageCipher have ads?
Neither GPG Decrypt nor MessageCipher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GPG Decrypt or MessageCipher?
GPG Decrypt ships an update every 3 days, and MessageCipher every 5 days. Most recently, GPG Decrypt was updated on October 4, 2026 and MessageCipher on September 25, 2026.

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