# Chat Local vs Pulse Chat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pulse Chat at none against Chat Local's 4. Pulse Chat also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chat Local sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Pulse Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chat Local ships an update every 2 months, Pulse Chat fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chat Local | Pulse Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-local-offline-messaging/id6758320647/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 17 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Colby Clark](https://appshunter.io/developer/1110053823) | [Mike Popal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886136095) |

## What reviewers say

### Chat Local

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-local-offline-messaging/id6758320647)

Communicate with friends nearby without internet or cell service using Bluetooth mesh technology. Ideal for festivals, camping, and areas with poor coverage. Messages travel directly between devices, ensuring privacy and offline functionality.

**Highlights:** Offline Bluetooth mesh messaging, No internet or cell service required, End-to-end encryption (Pro), Extended message length and history (Pro), Customizable themes (Pro), User blocking (Pro), Keyword notifications (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chat Local Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Chat Local Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Chat Local Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


### Pulse Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-chat/id6760766143)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chat Local free?

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

### Is Pulse Chat free?

Pulse Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Chat Local or Pulse Chat have ads?

Neither Chat Local nor Pulse Chat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chat Local or Pulse Chat?

Chat Local ships an update every 2 months, and Pulse Chat fortnightly. Most recently, Chat Local was updated on October 11, 2026 and Pulse Chat 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.*