Air vs Between
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Air
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• Send end-to-end encrypted texts, photos, videos, and documents. • Create group chats with friends and family. Feel free to bring your coworkers too. • Air doesn’t collect sensitive information like your phone number or email address, and doesn’t store metadata, like who you talk to and when. • Air is open-source, and is based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol and open standards. • Air is designed, built, and hosted in the European Union (EU). • Air is not supported by investors or advertisers, and you can see Air’s funders at the Air website. Air is regularly updated with new features and improvements.
Between
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Welcome to Between, the chat application built from the ground up for ultimate privacy and security. Unlike traditional messaging apps that route and store your conversations on central servers, Between is entirely decentralized. By utilizing advanced WebRTC technology, Between establishes a direct, secure, peer-to-peer connection between you and your contacts. Once connected, your data travels directly from your device to theirs with no middlemen, corporate servers, and no tracking. TRUE PRIVACY Your messages are for your eyes only. Every message and image sent through Between is heavily encrypted end-to-end. We don’t have access to your messages, we don't track your usage, and we don't sell your data. NO ACCOUNTS REQUIRED Say goodbye to handing over your phone number or email address just to send a message. Between generates a secure, cryptographic connection ID locally on your device. Just share your ID with a friend, and you’re ready to chat. YOUR DATA STAYS WITH YOU Your chat history and contact list are stored securely and locally on your own device. You have full control over your data and can completely wipe your local database at any time with just a few taps. FEATURES: Direct P2P Connections: Lightning-fast messaging through WebRTC data channels. End-to-End Encryption: Keeps your conversations secure. Built-in Contacts: Save your friends' connection IDs with custom names and profile pictures. No Central Storage: If it's not on your phone, it doesn't exist. Modern & Intuitive: A beautiful, native iOS experience designed for simplicity. Open-source: view and verify the code at any time. (Note: Between requires an active internet connection to establish the initial peer-to-peer handshake.)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Air at 15.0 against Between's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Air ships an update every 3 weeks, Between fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Air | Between |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 57 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Phoenix R&D GmbH | Bryce Agostini |
In-app purchases
Air
No in-app purchases
Between
No in-app purchases








