Comparison

Zyphr vs PopEllo

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

Head to head
About

Zyphr

A private messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats and calls for secure communication. It prioritizes user privacy with features like disappearing messages and on-device transcription, and requires no phone number for signup.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted chats
  • Secure voice and video calls
  • Disappearing messages
  • On-device voice message transcription
  • No phone number required for signup
  • Screenshot protection
Read full description

Zyphr is a private messenger built around one idea: your conversations are yours. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, video calls are secure video calls, and the server is never able to read them. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - End-to-end encrypted 1:1 chats (Signal Protocol) and group chats (MLS, the IETF standard for group encryption). - Encrypted voice and video calls (WebRTC / DTLS-SRTP) that connect directly between devices whenever they can. - Sign up with just an email, no phone number. Your email is stored only as an irreversible hash, never in plain text. Or sign in with Apple or Google. - The server relays only sealed ciphertext and helps your devices find each other. It holds no message content and no decryption keys. MESSAGING THAT RESPECTS YOU - Photos, videos, files and voice messages, each encrypted with its own key. - Disappearing messages, delayed send, and view-once secure media. - Read receipts and typing indicators you can turn off, in both directions. - On-device voice-message transcription (audio never leaves your phone). CALLS - One-tap voice and video, with a native call experience. - Call history with in-chat call records. YOURS TO CONTROL - Two-step verification and passkey sign-in. - Block and report, with username and impersonation filtering. - Screenshot protection across the app including video calls (secure video calls). - Delete your account and wipe your data anytime. Zyphr is ad-free and tracker-free.

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

Zyphr4 screens
PopEllo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PopEllo at none against Zyphr's 1. PopEllo also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Zyphr's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 4 days). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Zyphr sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PopEllo 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 Zyphr against 5.0 for PopEllo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zyphr ships an update daily, PopEllo every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Zyphr versus PopEllo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZyphrPopEllo
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB52 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperZyphr LLCVictoriam

Customer experience

Zyphr

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PopEllo

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Zyphr

One-time1
  • Founding Member$3.69
None

PopEllo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zyphr free?
Zyphr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PopEllo free?
PopEllo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zyphr or PopEllo?
Zyphr and PopEllo are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Zyphr or PopEllo have ads?
Neither Zyphr nor PopEllo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zyphr or PopEllo?
Zyphr ships an update daily, and PopEllo every 4 days. Most recently, Zyphr was updated on October 31, 2026 and PopEllo on October 31, 2026.

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