PicoTalk Messenger vs HomeChat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PicoTalk Messenger
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A messenger with no posts you didn't ask for. A messenger where strangers can't reach you. PicoTalk has no feed and no ads. People can find you only by typing your exact ID, so strangers can't search their way to you, and family, groups and work each stay in their own space. PicoTalk is a messenger that keeps work and personal life naturally apart with workspaces. From everyday chats with family and friends to collaboration with your team, one app is all you need. ■ Workspaces that separate work and life Move freely between multiple workspaces in a single account. Family, friends, your team at work, a club — keep each in its own space, so you can focus on work during the day and stay with your life after hours. ■ 1:1 and group messaging • Fast, reliable real-time messages • Share photos, videos and files • Forward, reply, and delete multiple messages at once • Read receipts and pinned channels • Fine-grained notification settings per workspace and per channel ■ Free voice and video calls • High-quality 1:1 voice and video calls • Answer right from the lock screen • Seamless on desktop and mobile ■ Video meetings • Join instantly with a code or a link • Guests can join from a browser, no app needed • Free for up to 8 people, 40 minutes per meeting ■ Boards — announcements and shared information for teams and groups • Organize notices and materials on a board for each workspace • Comments and attachments • Chat and boards connected naturally in one app ■ Multi-device • Use iPhone and desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux) at the same time • Everything stays in sync on every device ■ Security and privacy • All communication encrypted in transit • No ads • Operated directly by Pico Net Co., Ltd., a Korean company Contact / Support: support@picotalk.me Privacy Policy: https://www.picotalk.me/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.picotalk.me/terms Find your balance between work and life again with PicoTalk.
HomeChat
A secure messenger focused on private one-on-one communication with end-to-end encryption. It requires no personal data for registration and offers features like encrypted calls, media sharing, and customizable themes. Designed for users prioritizing privacy and security over group chats.
- End-to-end encryption
- One-on-one communication only
- No personal data required
- Encrypted calls and media
- Customizable themes and stickers
- App PIN and panic code
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HomeChat is a secure messenger with full end-to-end encryption. Private one-on-one and group chats — no channels, no public spaces. Who HomeChat is for: - Family and loved ones - Lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs - Crypto traders - Anyone who doesn't trust big platforms PRIVACY HomeChat encrypts everything — text, media, reactions, and call signals — directly on your device. The server does not store messages and never has access to your conversations. Decrypting data without the keys on your device is impossible. HomeChat includes a built-in proxy tunnel — a fallback channel used when the direct connection to our server is unavailable. When needed, the app uses an internal secured route to reach HomeChat's own server. It does not affect other apps and is not a system VPN. It can be enabled manually with a single tap. - No phone number, email, or personal data required to register - No ads or third-party analytics - No personal data collection - Encrypted media files are automatically deleted from the server after 7 days - Delete your account at any time with one tap - App PIN — independent cryptographic protection, separate from the phone passcode. Without the correct PIN, app content is inaccessible even on an unlocked device - Panic code — instantly and irreversibly destroys all data within the app with no trace and no possibility of recovery FEATURES - Text messages, photos, videos, audio, documents (max file size — 100 MB) - Video messages (video circles) - Voice calls - Video calls - Group chats with manual invite approval - Message reactions - Statuses: sent → delivered → read - Presence indicators: online / offline / removed from contacts - Custom stickers, ringtones, and wallpapers - Light and dark theme support - Ability to chat during a call SECURITY Encryption protocols: - X3DH + Double Ratchet (Signal protocol) on Apple CryptoKit - AES-256-GCM for all data types - Ed25519 for signing, X25519 for key exchange - Forward Secrecy — compromising one key doesn't reveal past conversations Calls: - WebRTC over self-hosted STUN/TURN servers - Direct P2P connection via STUN (when possible), TURN as a fallback channel - Call signaling (IP addresses, SDP) is additionally encrypted - DTLS/SRTP protection for the voice stream Transport: - WSS (WebSocket Secure) + TLS + Certificate Pinning (SPKI) — protection against MITM attacks On-device data: - Messages stored in an encrypted SQLite database - Session keys in the iOS Keychain (ThisDeviceOnly) - Media files excluded from iCloud backups - Session rollback protection (used encryption keys are destroyed immediately and cannot be recovered) Push notifications: - Message content never enters the push payload - VoIP Push only carries the caller's identifier NOTES - Works in Russia - Push notifications and VoIP calls work in the background - Supports iPhone and iPad
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HomeChat at none against PicoTalk Messenger's 2. PicoTalk Messenger's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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
Both are free to download. PicoTalk Messenger sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. HomeChat asks for nothing beyond the download.
PicoTalk Messenger ships an update every 5 days, HomeChat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PicoTalk Messenger | HomeChat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 41 MB | 83 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Pico Net Co., Ltd. | Hash and Joy, LLC |
In-app purchases
PicoTalk Messenger
- Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
HomeChat
No in-app purchases








