# Dark18 vs Zantray

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Zantray at 100% against Dark18's 40%. Zantray also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). Dark18's advantage is ratings volume (165 vs 2). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark18 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Zantray asks for nothing beyond the download.

Zantray holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dark18 has 165 ratings behind it against 2, 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 Zantray's.

Dark18 ships an update weekly, Zantray fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dark18 | Zantray |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark18/id6749346497/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zantray/id6768852918/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **165** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 130 MB | 61 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) | [Stanley Philippe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896610671) |

## 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 |


### Zantray

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zantray/id6768852918)

A messaging app designed for the Haitian community and others, offering real-time communication in four languages. It features status updates, an AI assistant for translation and information, and prioritizes user privacy. Future updates will include voice and video calls.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging, Multilingual support, Status updates, AI assistant (Saj AI), Document scanning, AI image generation, Privacy-focused

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dark18 free?

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

### Is Zantray free?

Zantray is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Zantray is rated higher. Dark18 averages 3.8 out of 5 from 165 ratings, while Zantray averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Dark18 or Zantray have ads?

Dark18 shows ads; Zantray does not.

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

Dark18 ships an update weekly, and Zantray fortnightly. Most recently, Dark18 was updated on October 17, 2026 and Zantray on September 30, 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.*