Comparison

Cyd vs Aerune

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

Head to head
About

Cyd

Features
Read full description

Most tech platforms are controlled by a tiny group of powerful billionaires. You don't OWE them your data. Even posting on Bluesky is a privacy nightmare. Why should our social media posts remain on the internet forever? With Cyd for iPhone, you can: - CREATE A LOCAL, PRIVATE BACKUP OF YOUR DATA, including Bluesky posts, reposts, likes, bookmarks, and chat messages. - CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DELETE. You can delete it all, or you can be selective, deleting most of it but keeping what went viral. - SCHEDULE AUTOMATIC DELETION, keeping your online data as ephemeral as you want over time. The Cyd developers can't access your accounts or your data. - Cyd runs directly on your device, not on our servers. - Cyd is designed so that we don't have access to your accounts, or to any of your data in those accounts. We don't even record what your username is. - When you sign into a Bluesky account in Cyd, you grant the app running locally on your phone permission to access it, not us, the developers of the app. Cyd is open source. The code is available at: https://github.com/lockdown-systems/cyd-mobile Read our privacy policy at: https://cyd.social/privacy/ Read our EULA at: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Aerune

Features
Read full description

Aerune is a fast, lightweight Bluesky (AT Protocol) client built exclusively for iOS and iPadOS. Designed with SwiftUI from the ground up, Aerune delivers a refined native experience with smooth scrolling, fluid transitions, and a clean interface focused on usability. [Key Features] • True Native UI Built specifically for Apple platforms, ensuring smooth performance and an interface that feels natural and responsive. • Fully Optimized for iPad Take full advantage of larger screens with a dynamic Split View layout that adapts to different sizes and orientations. • Designed for Power Users • Seamless multi-account switching • Absolute / relative timestamp toggle • Built-in Moderation Support for muting, blocking, and reporting to maintain a safe and comfortable timeline. • Multilingual Support Fully available in both languages. Upgrade your Bluesky experience with Aerune.

Screenshots

Cyd4 screens
Aerune4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aerune at none against Cyd's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Cyd sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $39.99 per year. Aerune asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cyd ships an update weekly, Aerune every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Cyd versus Aerune: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCydAerune
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB7 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLockdown SystemsMITSUKI HAMADA

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cyd

Subscriptions1
  • Cyd Premium Annual$39.991 Year
None

Aerune

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cyd free?
Cyd is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aerune free?
Aerune is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cyd or Aerune have ads?
Neither Cyd nor Aerune shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cyd or Aerune?
Cyd ships an update weekly, and Aerune every 4 days. Most recently, Cyd was updated on October 7, 2026 and Aerune on September 27, 2026.

Other comparisons