# theSHFT vs Zyphr

The clearest difference is monetization model: Zyphr at free against theSHFT's free with in-app purchases. Zyphr also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly). theSHFT's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. theSHFT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Zyphr sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for theSHFT against 5.0 for Zyphr. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: theSHFT has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

theSHFT ships an update weekly, Zyphr daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | theSHFT | Zyphr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theshft-encrypted-messaging/id6757427488/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zyphr/id6767202249/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 176 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [theSHFT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819238938) | [Zyphr LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6816938731) |

## What reviewers say

### theSHFT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theshft-encrypted-messaging/id6757427488)

This app offers a secure and private messaging experience disguised as a functional calculator. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and self-destruct after reading, with no data stored on servers. It prioritizes user privacy with advanced encryption protocols.

**Highlights:** Calculator disguise, End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, No server storage, Advanced encryption protocols, No phone number required

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| theSHFT Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| theSHFT Pro Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| theSHFT Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


### Zyphr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zyphr/id6767202249)

A private messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats and calls for secure communication. It prioritizes user privacy with features like disappearing messages and on-device transcription, and requires no phone number for signup.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted chats, Secure voice and video calls, Disappearing messages, On-device voice message transcription, No phone number required for signup, Screenshot protection

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Founding Member | $3.69 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is theSHFT free?

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

### Is Zyphr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, theSHFT or Zyphr?

theSHFT and Zyphr are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do theSHFT or Zyphr have ads?

Neither theSHFT nor Zyphr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, theSHFT or Zyphr?

theSHFT ships an update weekly, and Zyphr daily. Most recently, theSHFT was updated on October 24, 2026 and Zyphr on October 28, 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.*