Comparison

CipherX vs RelayPony

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

Head to head
About

CipherX

Securely encrypt and decrypt messages to ensure only the intended recipient can read them. Share protected messages through any communication channel, then allow the recipient to decrypt them within the app. Built for strong privacy without complexity.

Highlights
  • Message encryption and decryption
  • Shareable secure codes
  • Modern encryption standards
  • Secure key generation
  • Saved contacts
  • Secure data wiping
Features
Read full description

CipherX is a simple app for securely encrypting and decrypting messages—so only the intended person can read them. It doesn’t lock you into a chat platform. Instead, CipherX lets you protect a message and share it however you want: text message, email, handwritten note, or even read aloud over a phone call. How it works: • Add a contact and encrypt your message • CipherX turns it into a secure code • Send that code any way you like • The recipient pastes it into CipherX to read the original message Key features: • Modern, industry-standard encryption (P-384 ECC + HPKE) • Secure key generation • Saved contacts for easy reuse • Secure data wiping • Apple Keychain protection CipherX is built for people who want strong privacy without complicated tools.

About

RelayPony

Features
Read full description

RelayPony sends files straight from one device to another, encrypted end to end. Pair once, then send any time: photos, videos, documents, whatever you have. When two paired devices are on the same network or nearby, RelayPony connects them directly, so your files never touch a server. You can also send over the internet to a paired device that is not nearby. RelayPony tries a direct connection between the two devices first, and only falls back to a relay if it cannot connect directly. Everything stays encrypted end to end the whole way with the age encryption protocol, so the relay only ever sees ciphertext, never your files or your keys. Pairing is a one-time step. Scan a QR code, confirm the short code both devices show, and from then on the two are paired and can send to each other. Why people use it: Direct device to device on your local network, with no server in the middle. Send over the internet to a paired device anywhere, with an encrypted relay used only as a fallback when a direct link is not possible. End to end encrypted with age. Only the two paired devices can read what is sent. No account, no sign-up, no email required. Works even with no shared Wi-Fi, by connecting the two devices directly. Send by address when the other device does not show up on its own. Send to any nearby phone or tablet, whatever the other person carries. Send multiple files at once, with a live progress bar. Save received photos straight to your library. Available in English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Hindi. RelayPony is free. No in-app purchases and no ads. The core of RelayPony is open source, so the way it pairs, encrypts, and transfers files is out in the open for anyone to read and verify. You can find it on GitHub. RelayPony is part of the Pony family of privacy tools, alongside PGPony for OpenPGP, AgePony for age encryption, and QuorumPony for key backup. Questions or feedback: NorseHorse@norsehor.se

Screenshots

CipherX4 screens
RelayPony4 screens

Verdict

The call

CipherX and RelayPony are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
CipherX versus RelayPony: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCipherXRelayPony
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNicolas DeleasaKevin Stewart

In-app purchases

None

CipherX

No in-app purchases

None

RelayPony

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CipherX free?
CipherX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RelayPony free?
RelayPony is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CipherX or RelayPony have ads?
Neither CipherX nor RelayPony shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CipherX or RelayPony?
CipherX ships an update every 2 months, and RelayPony every 2 months. Most recently, CipherX was updated on October 8, 2026 and RelayPony on October 9, 2026.

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