SQUAD vs OnceChat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
SQUAD
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โ SQUAD is a new kind of laid-back text-based social app for staying in touch with friends Just post a one-liner about what you're up to, and stay loosely, chill-ly connected with friends even when you're apart. Gone in 24 hours, so it's easy. No read receipts, so it's never tiring. For anyone worn out by read-receipt pressure and always-public posts, and looking for a new way to stay connected. โ Perfect for you if... - You want to stay loosely connected with faraway friends or your partner - You just want to jot down a quick "right now" without overthinking it - You're tired of read-receipt pressure and social media where everything is public - Keeping up with a timeline feels like a chore - Apps that demand your attention wear you out - You want a social app that doesn't get too close - You feel like you can't post what you're really thinking on today's social media โ Ways to use SQUAD - Casually share your "now" with friends you always want to stay in touch with - Study together, loosely connected, even when you're both at home - Send an easygoing invite: "Free later today, message me if you're up for dinner" - Share widely and casually to meet up: "At the usual place, here till 9pm" โ Main features [ One-liner posts ] Post what you're up to in 50 characters or less. - Posts disappear automatically after 24 hours - Only friends you've connected with can see them, so it's a safe space - Only your latest post is shown. A new post replaces the previous one - No likes or reactions, so you can post without a second thought [ 1-on-1 messages ] Chat casually with friends using text and stickers. - Up to 500 characters of text plus stickers - No read receipts. Everyone goes at their own pace - A friend's icon dances to let you know you have unread messages [ Backgrounds that set the mood ] - The background changes with the time of day - At night, it creates a chill atmosphere [ Online / offline status ] - See whether a friend has the app open right now, or when they last opened it [ Adding friends ] - Search by user ID and send a request, then the other person approves it - Scan a QR code to add someone - Approval-based, so no worries about connecting with strangers [ Managing friends ] - Pin favorites to the top - Tidy up your list with "Hide" - Remove friends, or deal with unpleasant users quickly with "Block" and "Report" โ Privacy - Anonymous sign-in, with no email address or phone number required - Move safely to another device with a transfer code - Delete all your data anytime from the settings screen โ Languages - Available in Japanese and English - Change your device language, and the app switches automatically โ A note from us SQUAD is an app that will keep growing. We'll keep updating how you connect with friends, and how close you feel, so it always feels comfortable. Have an idea like "It'd be nice if it could do this"? We'd love to hear it. Send your thoughts and requests from "Feedback" in the settings screen.
OnceChat
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OnceChat is a quiet messaging app built around a simple idea: just one message a day. Away from endless notifications, constant replies, and the pressure of read receipts โ you choose one message each day, carefully, and send it. That's OnceChat. โ One message a day Just one message per day, taking turns. So every single letter matters. โ Quietly gone in 24 hours Your words fade after 24 hours. Because nothing is kept, some things become easier to say. โ No notifications No push notifications, ever. Open the app when you want to, at your own pace. A quiet place that never rushes you. โ Today's letter Share one short public letter a day with all your friends. Send yours, and you can read theirs too โ a new, reciprocal way to stay connected. โ Thoughtfully secure No passwords โ sign in with a passkey (biometrics). Messages are encrypted. No ads, and no third-party tracking. A calm space, like the quiet before dawn. Send your one letter today, with OnceChat.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: OnceChat at none against SQUAD's shown. SQUAD's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SQUAD ships an update every 4 days, OnceChat every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.
| Parameter | SQUAD | OnceChat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days โ better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No โ better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod โ better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 114 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 463 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | Kosei Takanashi |
In-app purchases
SQUAD
No in-app purchases
OnceChat
No in-app purchases









