# Tangle vs Wave

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tangle at every 4 days against Wave's every 4 weeks. Tangle also leads on ratings volume (19 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tangle against 5.0 for Wave. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tangle has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Tangle ships an update every 4 days, Wave every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tangle | Wave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tangle/id6748396539/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-secure-messaging/id6755153686/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 66 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tangle, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1825617924) | [Simhadri Bogula](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797254968) |

## What reviewers say

### Tangle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tangle/id6748396539)

This app offers a real-time, text-based communication experience that mimics the immediacy of a phone call without the need for voice. It provides guaranteed focus, disappearing messages, and an AI assistant for quick answers within conversations.

**Highlights:** Real-time text chat, Disappearing messages, Guaranteed focus, AI assistant for quick answers, End-to-end encryption, Burner tags for privacy, Group chat invites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Innovative messaging approach
- 🚀 Feels like live, shared conversations
- 🔒 Secure and private messaging
- 💡 Scheduled chat functionality is useful
- 👍 Clean and easy-to-use design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app updates can be inconvenient
- 🔋 Requires good network connection

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved offline functionality


### Wave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-secure-messaging/id6755153686)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tangle free?

Tangle 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, Tangle or Wave?

Tangle and Wave are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Tangle or Wave have ads?

Neither Tangle nor Wave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tangle or Wave?

Tangle ships an update every 4 days, and Wave every 4 weeks. Most recently, Tangle was updated on October 22, 2026 and Wave on October 7, 2026.

---

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