# theSHFT vs ANCROM

theSHFT and ANCROM 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.

Both are free to download. theSHFT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and ANCROM sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

theSHFT ships an update weekly, ANCROM every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | theSHFT | ANCROM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theshft-encrypted-messaging/id6757427488/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 176 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [theSHFT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819238938) | [Torsten Klement](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161332507) |

## 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 |


### ANCROM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ancrom-secure-messenger/id6770340118)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ANCROM Premium | $19.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is theSHFT free?

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

### Is ANCROM free?

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

### Do theSHFT or ANCROM have ads?

Neither theSHFT nor ANCROM shows ads.

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

theSHFT ships an update weekly, and ANCROM every 2 weeks. Most recently, theSHFT was updated on October 24, 2026 and ANCROM 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.*