# Dark18 vs ZZUGO

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZZUGO at 100% against Dark18's 40%. ZZUGO also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and ads (none vs shown). Dark18's advantage is ratings volume (165 vs 12) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark18 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and ZZUGO sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ZZUGO holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dark18 has 165 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Dark18's written reviews are positive against 100% of ZZUGO's.

Dark18 ships an update weekly, ZZUGO every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dark18 | ZZUGO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark18/id6749346497/reviews) | **[4.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zzugo/id6755040834/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **165** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 130 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ana Lucila Gomez Navarro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830136813) | [WireFas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1467382155) |

## What reviewers say

### Dark18

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark18/id6749346497)

A private messenger offering secure end-to-end encrypted chats, HD voice and video calls, and community groups. Share updates through stories that disappear after 24 hours, all within a sleek, dark-themed interface. It's designed for users who prioritize privacy and freedom in their communication.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, HD voice and video calls, Private and public groups, 24-hour disappearing stories, Dark-themed interface, Secure sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Access | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Access | $90.99 | per year |
| Weekly Premium Access | $5.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Premium Access | $8.99 | one-time |
| Yearly Premium Access | $99.99 | one-time |


### ZZUGO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zzugo/id6755040834)

Connect globally with real-time translation for messaging and calls. Share moments, send gifts, and enhance your communication experience. Upgrade to a business account for enhanced features and promotion.

**Highlights:** Automatic real-time translation, Crystal-clear voice and video calls, Instant messaging, In-app wallet with Coins for gifts, Business User accounts with story promotion, Verified badge for subscribers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| 10 coin | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50 coin | $4.99 | one-time |
| 20000 Reaches | $7.99 | one-time |
| 100 coin | $9.99 | one-time |
| 30000 Reaches | $12.99 | one-time |
| 250 coin | $24.99 | one-time |
| 100000 Reaches | $39.99 | one-time |
| 500 coin | $49.99 | one-time |
| 200000 Reaches | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dark18 free?

Dark18 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ZZUGO free?

ZZUGO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dark18 or ZZUGO?

ZZUGO is rated higher. Dark18 averages 3.8 out of 5 from 165 ratings, while ZZUGO averages 4.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do Dark18 or ZZUGO have ads?

Dark18 shows ads; ZZUGO does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dark18 or ZZUGO?

Dark18 ships an update weekly, and ZZUGO every 5 days. Most recently, Dark18 was updated on October 17, 2026 and ZZUGO on October 8, 2026.

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