Comparison

Secretly vs PopEllo

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

Head to head
About

Secretly

Features
Read full description

Secretly is a private messenger that needs no phone number and no email. Your account is a cryptographic key created on your device, and you get a random Secretly ID — nothing that ties your account to your name or your SIM card. NO PHONE NUMBER. NO EMAIL. • Create an account in seconds — no SIM card, no email, no personal details • Add contacts by Secretly ID, QR code or profile link • Your address book is never uploaded • Messages from people you don't know arrive as requests — you decide who can reach you END-TO-END ENCRYPTION • Messages, voice messages and files in private and group chats are end-to-end encrypted with the Double Ratchet algorithm, which provides forward secrecy • One-to-one voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted • Verify a contact in person by scanning their QR code or comparing security codes; Secretly warns you when a contact's keys change • Your chat database is encrypted on your device YOU DECIDE WHO SEES WHAT • Choose who can see your last-seen time, profile photo and forwarded messages, and who can call you: everyone, your contacts or nobody • Auto-delete messages in any chat after 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days • Lock Secretly with a password, a pattern or Face ID / Touch ID • Keep private conversations in a separately locked "Personal" section • Hide chat content in the app switcher • Delete your account at any time, or let it delete itself after a period of inactivity you choose EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT FROM A MESSENGER • Groups with admins and moderators, invite links, @mentions and pinned messages • Group voice and video calls • Replies, reactions, editing, delete for everyone, forwarding and search • Scheduled and silent messages, chat folders • Voice messages, photos, videos and files • Stickers, including a sticker maker that cuts the subject out of your photo on the device (iOS 17 or later) • Link previews are created by the sender, so your device doesn't fetch links you receive • On-device message translation • Encrypted backups protected by your password, plus a recovery kit to restore your account • A Mac app, linked to your iPhone with a QR code OPEN AND HONEST • No ads, no analytics or advertising SDKs • Open source under AGPL-3.0 — anyone can review the code on GitHub • We publish a threat model listing what Secretly protects against and its known limitations • An independent security audit has not been completed yet — we'd rather tell you than let you assume SECRETLY PREMIUM Secretly is free. Premium is optional and adds voice-message transcription on your device, larger files, bigger groups and group calls, premium sticker packs, and personalisation: themes, accent colours, animated wallpapers, avatar frames, profile covers, app icons and ringtones. Security features are never part of Premium. Premium is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Secretly works only between Secretly users. It does not send SMS or MMS and does not call phone numbers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.secretlyapp.com/privacy-policy

About

PopEllo

This app offers private, end-to-end encrypted messaging with features like sealed messages, disappearing messages, and voice/video calls. Connect with friends using handles instead of phone numbers for enhanced privacy.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Sealed messages with hold-to-reveal
  • Disappearing messages
  • Voice and video calls
  • Photo and video sharing
  • Connect via @handle (no phone number needed)
  • Voice effects for voice notes
Features
Read full description

Popello brings private conversations and playful expression together. Send end-to-end encrypted messages, share photos and videos, and stay connected through voice notes and calls. Find friends by @handle without sharing your phone number. REVEAL ON YOUR TERMS Sealed messages keep their contents hidden on screen until you choose to reveal them. Hold to reveal and release to reseal when using hold-to-reveal mode. END-TO-END ENCRYPTED MESSAGING Messages are encrypted on your device before being sent. The visual seal adds on-screen privacy; end-to-end encryption protects the message content. VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS Move beyond text with voice and video conversations. PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND VOICE NOTES Share moments with friends and add personality to voice notes with voice effects. MORE CONTROL OVER YOUR CHATS Use disappearing messages, an app PIN and an optional duress PIN that opens an empty inbox. CONNECT BY HANDLE Sign in with Apple or Google, choose your @handle and connect with friends. No phone number required. Popello is free to use. Manage your account and access account deletion from Settings. Privacy Policy: https://popello.chat/privacy.html Terms: https://popello.chat/terms.html Support: support@popello.chat

Screenshots

Secretly4 screens
PopEllo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PopEllo at none against Secretly's 3. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Secretly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PopEllo asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secretly ships an update weekly, PopEllo every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Secretly versus PopEllo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecretlyPopEllo
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB52 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperSecretly SIAVictoriam

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Secretly

Subscriptions2
  • Secretly: Premium Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Secretly Lifetime Premium$24.99
None

PopEllo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Secretly free?
Secretly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PopEllo free?
PopEllo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Secretly or PopEllo have ads?
Neither Secretly nor PopEllo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Secretly or PopEllo?
Secretly ships an update weekly, and PopEllo every 4 days. Most recently, Secretly was updated on October 25, 2026 and PopEllo on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons