Cord vs Relay Message
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Cord
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Cord is a privacy-first messaging app with end-to-end encryption and minimal identity requirementsβno phone number, no email, no contact upload. Chat history stays on your device. End-to-End Encryption End-to-end encryption for messages Forward secrecy Cryptographic message authentication Minimal Identity by Design No phone number required No email required No contact list uploads Join cords via code/QR History Stays on Your Phone Chat history is stored in an encrypted database on your device Cord does not upload that history An app update does not delete your chats Move to a new phone on the same Wi-Fi. Chats copy directly between the phones, encrypted for the transfer, and are not uploaded After the move, messaging continues on the new phone. The previous phone can still be opened to read Key Features Create or join secure cords (group chats) Real-time encrypted messaging Move chats, including photos and files, to a new phone Message expiration options Dark and light themes Push notifications (no message content) Privacy-First No ads or trackers Built on open cryptographic standards Designed to minimize stored data Why Choose Cord? Cord focuses on private communication without tying your account to personal identifiers. Your messages are end-to-end encrypted so only participants can read them. History stays on the device, and you move it yourself when you change phones. For App Store Connect, the promotional text is 145 characters: Privacy-first messaging with end-to-end encryptionβno phone number, no email. Move chats to a new phone over Wi-Fi. History stays on your device. What's New: Chat history stays in an encrypted database on your device. Updating the app does not delete your chats. Move to a new phone on the same Wi-Fi. Chats copy directly between the phones and are not uploaded. After the move, messaging continues on the new phone. The move is described as a handoff, not a backup and not a second active phone. Chat history is copied on the local network and is not uploaded. After the move, messaging continues on the new phone, and the previous phone can still be opened to read.
Relay Message
This app offers a secure and private communication platform with end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and file sharing. It prioritizes user privacy with features like private profiles and approval-based group joins, ensuring conversations remain confidential.
- End-to-end encrypted messages and group chats
- Voice and video calls
- File sharing
- Groups up to 256 members
- Private profile option
- Approval-based group join requests
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Relay Message is the most secure and private way to stay in touch. Every message, call, voice note and file is encrypted on your device before it is sent. Nobody can read your conversations, not even us. FEATURES - End-to-end encrypted messages and group chats - Voice and video calls, one-on-one and in groups - Voice memos, photos, videos and file sharing - Groups up to 256 members with admin controls - Private profile option, visible only to your friends - Add friends by username - Read receipts and unread indicators - Approval-based join requests for private groups SAFETY - Report objectionable content from any message or profile - Block abusive users with one tap - Delete your own messages anytime - All reports reviewed by our team within 24 hours - Zero tolerance for harassment, hate speech, or illegal content PRIVACY BY DESIGN - Your encryption keys never leave your device - We store only what is strictly necessary to deliver your messages, nothing more - No ads, no tracking, no selling your data Works on iPhone and iPad. An account is required. Your email is stored encrypted.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Cord at every 2 days against Relay Message's every 9 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Cord ships an update every 2 days, Relay Message every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cord | Relay Message |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | β | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days β better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | β | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.1 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Mads Schmidt | Mae Martins-Charavel |
In-app purchases
Cord
No in-app purchases
Relay Message
No in-app purchases









