Comparison

EXTRA SAFE vs Wave

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

Head to head
About

EXTRA SAFE

This messenger allows you to send stablecoins and other digital assets directly within chats, acting as a self-custodial wallet. It offers end-to-end encrypted communication and peer-to-peer calls, with a focus on privacy and ease of use.

Highlights
  • Stablecoins in chat
  • End-to-end encrypted chats
  • Self-custodial wallet
  • Device-to-device calls
  • Private balances
  • Gift links
Read full description

EXTRA SAFE is a self-custodial messenger with a built-in stablecoin-first wallet, the chat layer for transferring tokenized dollars and other assets. Send USD₮, USDC, and other stablecoins to a contact as naturally as sending a message, and pay gas in the same stablecoin. Pick a name, get your EXTRA SAFE number, and you're set up in seconds. No SIM is required to get started. WHAT YOU GET 1. Stablecoins in chat Send USD₮, USDC, and other assets to a contact in chat, straight from the attachment menu, wallet-to-wallet. The transfer confirms in seconds. A name or EXTRA SAFE number is all you need; the app handles addressing and routing. 2. See who you're paying Call a contact first, video or audio, from the same chat to confirm you're paying the right person, then send stablecoins without leaving the conversation or switching apps. 3. Gas settles in the stablecoin you send You don't have to buy a native coin to send tokenized dollars. The fee comes from the same stablecoin you're sending. It's part of UGTP (Universal Gateway Transaction Platform), running under every in-app transaction: you choose the outcome, and it builds the transaction to deliver it. 4. Transparent fees Every transfer shows its full cost before you confirm. 5. Self-custodial, stablecoin-first wallet Your keys are generated on your device and stay there. You own your funds – no one can freeze them. Send across six leading EVM networks: Avalanche (default), BNB Chain, Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Arbitrum. The recipient gets the asset you selected. The on-chain layer stays invisible. Send stablecoins and other assets to contacts in chat or to any external self-custodial wallets or centralized exchanges from the Wallet tab. 6. Private balances & transfer amounts Keep the amount you're sending hidden; the transfer itself stays visible. Convert stablecoins and AVAX into a private balance, send it in the app, and reveal the amount only when you choose. Private balances and transfer amounts use the eERC standard by Avalanche. 7. End-to-end encrypted chats Every message, file, image, and voice note is end-to-end encrypted: keys live on your device, and your contact decrypts content only on their device. EXTRA SAFE's servers carry messages only in encrypted form. Every chat runs on your timer: once your contact views the content, it clears after the time you set, from one minute to one month. 8. Gift links Gift stablecoins to your closest people with a funded link: stablecoins already inside, and a wallet created the moment your contact opens it. Usable from day one. 9. Device-to-device calls Calls connect directly between devices, peer-to-peer. In-call chat is encrypted and clears when the call ends. Group calls support up to 5 people. 10. One identity One name, one EXTRA SAFE number for messages, calls, and assets. Pick a name and start: your identity is created in the app, independent of email, phone number, or SIM. One 12-word recovery phrase restores your account and wallet on any device. Your chats, contacts, and assets stay yours fully. 11. Encrypted backup Save a password-protected backup of your recovery phrase to Google Drive or iCloud so losing your device doesn't mean losing your account.

About

Wave

A privacy-focused messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats without requiring sign-ups or personal information. It utilizes a decentralized network for enhanced user control and supports both one-to-one and group conversations.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • No sign-up required
  • Decentralized network
  • One-to-one and group chats
  • Optional Bluesky integration
  • Ad-free and tracker-free
Features
Read full description

Wave is a privacy-first messaging app built for people who value security, simplicity, and control. Chat, call, and send photos and videos without signing up, sharing personal details, or trusting centralized servers. You can start messaging instantly. Wave uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the people you're chatting with can see your messages, calls, photos, and videos. Everything is encrypted on your device and decrypted only by recipients. Powered by XMTP, Wave is built on a decentralized messaging network, reducing reliance on central servers and giving users more control over their conversations. Wave supports fast one-to-one messaging and secure group conversations in a clean, minimal interface with no clutter or distractions. Send voice notes, photos, videos, and albums of up to 10 photos and videos. Reply to messages, react with emoji, and share GIFs and stickers, including ones made from your own photos. Make one-to-one voice and video calls with anyone you chat with. Answer from the Lock Screen, keep chatting while a call floats in a small window, add live filters to your video, and find past and missed calls in call history. Stay in control of every conversation. Set messages to disappear after 30 seconds up to 7 days, unsend any message you've sent, and pin, archive, or mute your chats. Choose how much your notifications show, block anyone, and get alerts about suspicious accounts. Give your groups admins, a description, and a custom photo. Pick your own profile photo and share your profile with a QR code or a link you can reset anytime. Chat Backup saves your chats to iCloud automatically, daily, weekly, or monthly, so you can restore them when you reinstall Wave or get a new iPhone. Your backup is encrypted before it leaves your device. You can optionally connect your Bluesky account to message people you already know, or simply use Wave on its own without linking any account. Wave is designed with privacy at its core, with end-to-end encrypted messages and calls, a privacy-first architecture, and no ads or trackers.

Screenshots

EXTRA SAFE4 screens
Wave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Wave at 5.0 against EXTRA SAFE's 4.4. EXTRA SAFE's advantage is ratings volume (105 vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EXTRA SAFE has 105 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EXTRA SAFE ships an update fortnightly, Wave monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
EXTRA SAFE versus Wave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEXTRA SAFEWave
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (105 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings105 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB157 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAlex KeselmanSimhadri Bogula

Customer experience

EXTRA SAFE

All ratings103 ratings
Positive83.5%
Neutral4.9%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

Wave

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

EXTRA SAFE

No in-app purchases

None

Wave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EXTRA SAFE free?
EXTRA SAFE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wave free?
Wave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EXTRA SAFE or Wave?
Wave is rated higher. EXTRA SAFE averages 4.4 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while Wave averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do EXTRA SAFE or Wave have ads?
Neither EXTRA SAFE nor Wave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EXTRA SAFE or Wave?
EXTRA SAFE ships an update fortnightly, and Wave monthly. Most recently, EXTRA SAFE was updated on November 12, 2026 and Wave on October 30, 2026.

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