Wave vs Citylap
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wave
A privacy-focused messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats without requiring sign-ups or personal information. It utilizes a decentralized network for enhanced user control and supports both one-to-one and group conversations.
- End-to-end encryption
- No sign-up required
- Decentralized network
- One-to-one and group chats
- Optional Bluesky integration
- Ad-free and tracker-free
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Wave: Secure Messaging Wave is a privacy-first messaging app built for people who value security, simplicity, and control. Chat freely without signing up, sharing personal details, or trusting centralized servers. You can start messaging instantly. Wave uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the people you’re chatting with can read messages. Conversations are encrypted on your device and decrypted only by recipients. Powered by XMTP, Wave is built on a decentralized messaging network reducing reliance on central servers and giving users more control over their conversations. Wave supports fast one-to-one messaging and secure group conversations in a clean, minimal interface with no clutter or distractions. You can optionally connect your Bluesky account to message people you already know, or simply use Wave on its own without linking any account. Wave is designed with privacy at its core, with end-to-end encrypted messages, a privacy-first architecture, and no ads or trackers.
Citylap
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Stay close to the people who matter, without sacrificing your privacy. Citylap lets you share your location with friends and family through a simple, city-level view — so they know you're in town, not your exact street corner. Everything is protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning your location data is readable only by the people you choose. Not even we can see it. Whether you're traveling, planning to meet up, or just want to know when a friend lands in your city, Citylap keeps you connected on your terms. Why Citylap? - End-to-end encrypted — Your location is encrypted on your device before it's ever stored. Only the people you approve can see it. - City-level by design — Share the city you're in, not precise GPS coordinates. Privacy is the default, not an afterthought. - Overlap alerts — Get notified when a friend arrives in your city, so you never miss a chance to meet up. - Time machine — Look back at where friends have been, or share your future travel plans so people know when you'll be around. - Granular controls — Decide per person what they can see: your current city, your location history, or your upcoming plans. - Find friends easily — Connect with people already on Citylap through secure, privacy-preserving contact matching. Your contacts are never exposed. - React and stay in touch — Send lightweight reactions to keep the connection warm. Your data, your rules. Citylap is built privacy-first from the ground up. Location data is end-to-end encrypted, you control exactly who sees what, and you can revoke access at any time. Download Citylap and stay connected with the people who matter — privately.
Screenshots
Verdict
Wave and Citylap 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Wave ships an update every 4 weeks, Citylap fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wave | Citylap |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Simhadri Bogula | Technical Assemblage LLC |
In-app purchases
Wave
No in-app purchases
Citylap
No in-app purchases









