Comparison

FreeCat vs Ekko Chat

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

Head to head
About

FreeCat

This messaging app enhances secure communication with integrated private network capabilities. It offers advanced tunneling technology for stable connectivity and privacy, even on public Wi-Fi. The interface remains familiar, keeping all new features accessible without clutter.

Highlights
  • Integrated private network
  • Advanced tunneling technology
  • Secure communications
  • Stable connectivity
  • Familiar interface
  • Encrypted connections
Features
Read full description

FreeCat is a messaging app based on Telegram API that adds additional functionality - like integrated private network capabilities. Advanced tunnelling technology provides primary focus on secure communications and, as a secondary benefit, stable connectivity regardless of network conditions. INTEGRATED NETWORK PROTECTION Manage it right from FreeCat to ensure your messages stay private in a public Wi-Fi network, or ensure that your access to messaging will remain in different conditions. SECURE AND PRIVATE We never sell your data to third parties, and all connections are encrypted. FAMILIAR INTERFACE All new features we add remain are in place with the rest of the app, avoiding visual clutter and need to learn the new interface. Important Note: This app is based on Telegram API for third-party developers, however it is not affiliated with or sponsored by Telegram Messenger in any way.

About

Ekko Chat

A secure messaging app that uses multiple independent transport paths to ensure message delivery. It offers end-to-end encryption, offline messaging via Bluetooth, and no account or personal information required for use.

Highlights
  • Multi-transport message delivery
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Offline messaging via Bluetooth
  • No account or personal info required
  • Disappearing messages
  • Encrypted group chats
  • Transparent networking dashboard
Features
Read full description

Ekko is a chat messenger that delivers your messages through six independent transport paths. If one is blocked, your message finds another way. No phone number. No email. No account. Your identity is a cryptographic key pair generated on your device and never shared with anyone — not even us. Add contacts by scanning QR codes when you meet in person. This is how trust should work. ENCRYPTED BY DEFAULT Every message is end-to-end encrypted before it leaves your device. Text, photos, documents, GIFs, and files are all protected. Not even Ekko can read your conversations. WORKS WITHOUT INTERNET Ekko uses Bluetooth Low Energy to exchange messages with nearby contacts automatically. Walk past someone at a coffee shop and pending messages deliver silently — no cell tower, no Wi-Fi required. When contacts aren't nearby, messages route through the internet via five other transport methods. SIX TRANSPORT PATHS - Bluetooth: Nearby offline delivery within 100 meters - Mesh Gossip: Messages forwarded by nearby peers - Distributed Hash Table: Decentralized serverless routing - Tor Onion: High-privacy delivery - Peer Link: Fast QUIC-based direct connections - Private Relay: Always-on encrypted push delivery Each message automatically finds the best available path. The transport dashboard shows you exactly how every message traveled. GROUP CONVERSATIONS Create encrypted group chats, invite contacts, share files, and set disappearing message timers for the entire group. Member management lets you add or remove participants at any time. DISAPPEARING MESSAGES Set messages to self-destruct after 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week. Once gone, they cannot be recovered. SHARE MEDIA SECURELY Send photos from your camera or gallery, browse and send animated GIFs, attach documents and files of any type — all encrypted end-to-end. An inline attachment menu gives you quick access to Files, Photos, Camera, and GIF search without leaving the conversation. PRIVATE RELAY SERVER Subscribe to a dedicated relay server for instant push delivery when you and your contacts aren't nearby. Messages are stored encrypted on the relay — it cannot read them. Invite contacts to share your relay for mutual always-on delivery. VERIFY CONTACTS Compare cryptographic fingerprints in person or through a trusted channel to verify that your contact is who they claim to be. No certificate authorities, no central trust — just mathematics. TRANSPARENT NETWORKING The transport dashboard gives you full visibility into how your messages travel. See which transports are active, how many network peers you're connected to, and which path delivered each individual message. An in-chat legend explains every transport and status icon. YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE All data stays on your device. There is no cloud sync, no analytics, no tracking, and no telemetry. Export an encrypted backup anytime for device transfers. Delete everything with a single tap. BIOMETRIC UNLOCK Secure the app with Face ID or fingerprint authentication on supported devices for fast, convenient access. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED PRIVACY Ekko is designed for journalists, activists, travelers, and anyone who believes private communication is a fundamental right. Whether you're in a restrictive environment where traditional messengers are monitored, or you simply want conversations that stay between you and your contacts, Ekko ensures your messages always find a way. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

FreeCat3 screens
Ekko Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FreeCat at none against Ekko Chat's 4. Ekko Chat's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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. Ekko Chat sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. FreeCat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FreeCat against 5.0 for Ekko Chat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ekko Chat has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FreeCat versus Ekko Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFreeCatEkko Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size205 MB65 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperTeleTeamChris Ross

In-app purchases

None

FreeCat

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Ekko Chat

Subscriptions4
  • Standard Relay Monthly Subscription$6.991 Month
  • Premium Relay Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Annual Relay Standard Subscription$69.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Relay Premium Subscription$99.991 Year

Questions

Is FreeCat free?
FreeCat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ekko Chat free?
Ekko Chat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FreeCat or Ekko Chat?
FreeCat and Ekko Chat are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do FreeCat or Ekko Chat have ads?
Neither FreeCat nor Ekko Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FreeCat or Ekko Chat?
FreeCat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ekko Chat every 3 weeks. Most recently, FreeCat was updated on October 31, 2026 and Ekko Chat on October 31, 2026.

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