Comparison

Cipher Message vs EncryptChat X

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

Head to head
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)

About

EncryptChat X

Send end-to-end encrypted messages and files directly within iMessage. Messages are ephemeral, self-destructing after one read, ensuring your conversations remain private and secure without requiring new accounts or servers.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Ephemeral messages (self-destruct after read)
  • Direct iMessage integration
  • Encrypted file sharing (up to 100 MB)
  • PGP-style key exchange
  • Face ID authentication
  • No account or sign-in required
Features
Read full description

EncryptChat X - Private Encrypted Messaging Your messages disappear. Your secrets stay yours. EncryptChat X lets you send end-to-end encrypted messages and files directly through iMessage - no new app, no new account, no servers storing your conversations. Every message is ephemeral: read once, then gone forever. WHY ENCRYPTCHAT X Most messaging apps promise privacy. EncryptChat X enforces it. Messages are encrypted on your device before they leave, and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. Not us. Not anyone else. FEATURES - End-to-end encrypted messages using AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305 - Ephemeral by design - every message self-destructs after one read - Works directly inside iMessage - no switching apps - Encrypt photos, videos, and files up to 100 MB - Share encrypted files with a 6-character code (expires in 24 hours) - PGP-style key exchange - session keys protected by Curve25519 ECDH - Perfect Forward Secrecy for Enterprise - each message uses a unique key - Face ID authentication before any message is shown - Custom password option for an extra layer of security - No account required. No sign-in. No tracking. - Custom app icons and a new Crimson Red theme, match automatically or pick manually. HOW IT WORKS 1. Open EncryptChat X or tap the "+" button in iMessage 2. Type your secret message or attach a file 3. Hit Encrypt & Send - your message is locked before it leaves your device 4. The recipient decrypts it with one tap - then it's gone SUBSCRIPTION TIERS Trial - 2 encrypted messages per day, 4-day trial period Premium - Unlimited messages + encrypted file attachments up to 5 MB Enterprise - Everything in Premium + files up to 100 MB, ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and Hybrid Hardening SECURITY YOU CAN TRUST Built on industry-standard encryption protocols used by financial institutions and governments worldwide. No third-party libraries. No backdoors. Your private key never leaves your device. Secure. Ephemeral. Private. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Cipher Message4 screens
EncryptChat X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: EncryptChat X at none against Cipher Message's shown. EncryptChat X also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). Cipher Message's advantage is iOS requirement (18.5 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Cipher Message sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and EncryptChat X sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cipher Message against 5.0 for EncryptChat X. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cipher Message ships an update fortnightly, EncryptChat X every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cipher Message versus EncryptChat X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCipher MessageEncryptChat X
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.5 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB41 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperNathaniel Van EveraHercules Tech LLC

Customer experience

Cipher Message

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

EncryptChat X

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cipher Message

One-time1
  • Cipher Message Premium$0.99
4 purchases

EncryptChat X

Subscriptions4
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Enterprise Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Enterprise Yearly$149.991 Year

Questions

Is Cipher Message free?
Cipher Message is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EncryptChat X free?
EncryptChat X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cipher Message or EncryptChat X?
Cipher Message and EncryptChat X are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Cipher Message or EncryptChat X have ads?
Cipher Message shows ads; EncryptChat X does not.
Which is updated more often, Cipher Message or EncryptChat X?
Cipher Message ships an update fortnightly, and EncryptChat X every 5 days. Most recently, Cipher Message was updated on October 1, 2026 and EncryptChat X on September 10, 2026.

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