Comparison

Relay Message vs Nitro Messenger

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

Head to head
About

Relay Message

This app offers a secure and private communication platform with end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and file sharing. It prioritizes user privacy with features like private profiles and approval-based group joins, ensuring conversations remain confidential.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messages and group chats
  • Voice and video calls
  • File sharing
  • Groups up to 256 members
  • Private profile option
  • Approval-based group join requests
Features
Read full description

Relay Message is the most secure and private way to stay in touch. Every message, call, voice note and file is encrypted on your device before it is sent. Nobody can read your conversations, not even us. FEATURES - End-to-end encrypted messages and group chats - Voice and video calls, one-on-one and in groups - Voice memos, photos, videos and file sharing - Groups up to 256 members with admin controls - Private profile option, visible only to your friends - Add friends by username - Read receipts and unread indicators - Approval-based join requests for private groups SAFETY - Report objectionable content from any message or profile - Block abusive users with one tap - Delete your own messages anytime - All reports reviewed by our team within 24 hours - Zero tolerance for harassment, hate speech, or illegal content PRIVACY BY DESIGN - Your encryption keys never leave your device - We store only what is strictly necessary to deliver your messages, nothing more - No ads, no tracking, no selling your data Works on iPhone and iPad. An account is required. Your email is stored encrypted.

About

Nitro Messenger

Features
Read full description

Nitro is a private messenger built on a simple promise: the server cannot read your messages. Content is end-to-end encrypted with a post-quantum hybrid ratchet, so your conversations stay yours โ€” even against tomorrow's computers. WHY NITRO โ€ข End-to-end encrypted messages, calls and media โ€” keys live only on your device. โ€ข Post-quantum hybrid encryption, not just classic crypto. โ€ข The server is a "dumb carrier": it routes opaque, encrypted envelopes and never sees content. โ€ข No ads. No trackers. No third-party analytics. Your address book is never uploaded. โ€ข Your identity is a @username โ€” your phone number is never shown to anyone. FEATURES โ€ข 1:1 chat with delivery receipts. โ€ข Photo sharing โ€” images are encrypted on-device before they ever leave. โ€ข Voice & video calls with the native call experience (CallKit). โ€ข Group chats. โ€ข On-device, encrypted history โ€” losing the server never loses your messages. โ€ข App lock with Face ID. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY Every chat shows an encryption indicator, and you can confirm a contact face-to-face with a safety number. Delete your account anytime from Settings โ€” your identity and history are wiped from the device. Nitro is single-device by design: no desktop or multi-device surface to attack.

Screenshots

Relay Message4 screens
Nitro Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nitro Messenger at every 2 days against Relay Message's every 9 days. Relay Message's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Relay Message ships an update every 9 days, Nitro Messenger every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on August 20, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 5 level
Relay Message versus Nitro Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRelay MessageNitro Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size43 MB24 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMae Martins-CharavelQ Safe Room

In-app purchases

None

Relay Message

No in-app purchases

None

Nitro Messenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Relay Message free?
Relay Message is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nitro Messenger free?
Nitro Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Relay Message or Nitro Messenger have ads?
Neither Relay Message nor Nitro Messenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Relay Message or Nitro Messenger?
Relay Message ships an update every 9 days, and Nitro Messenger every 2 days. Most recently, Relay Message was updated on August 20, 2026 and Nitro Messenger on September 18, 2026.

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