# True vs Damus

The clearest difference is rating: Damus at 4.8 against True's 4.2. Damus also leads on ratings volume (675 vs 9). True's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Damus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. True asks for nothing beyond the download.

Damus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Damus has 675 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of True's written reviews are positive against 78% of Damus's.

True ships an update every 3 weeks, Damus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | True | Damus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-private-group-sharing/id834451429/reviews) | **[4.8 (675 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/damus/id1628663131/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **675** |
| Positive reviews | 76.8% of reviews | **78.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 102 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hello Mobile Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/834451432) | [Damus Nostr, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1510689510) |

## What reviewers say

### True

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-private-group-sharing/id834451429)

This app offers a private social networking experience focused on genuine connections with trusted individuals. It prioritizes user privacy by avoiding targeted advertising and data selling, creating a safe and positive space for sharing.

**Highlights:** Private by default sharing, No ads or tracking, User data ownership, Focus on real friends, Safe and positive environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Damus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/damus/id1628663131)

A decentralized social network offering full control over your data and speech. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messaging, no registration requirements, and seamless integration with bots. Monetize your interactions by tipping friends with lightning.

**Highlights:** Decentralized social network, End-to-end encrypted messaging, No registration required, Programmable bots integration, Lightning tipping for friends

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purple | $9.99 | per month |
| Purple Yearly | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Censorship-resistant
- 💰 Bitcoin/Lightning integration
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 🌐 Decentralized protocol

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited search/discovery features
- 💬 Lack of moderation tools

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to post or view content
- Inconsistent performance on older devices
- Issues with connecting to relays

**Requested features**

- Add polls and voting features
- Improve search and content discovery
- Implement user-controlled moderation tools
- Add support for more languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is True free?

True is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Damus free?

Damus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, True or Damus?

Damus is rated higher. True averages 4.2 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Damus averages 4.8 from 675 ratings.

### Do True or Damus have ads?

Neither True nor Damus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, True or Damus?

True ships an update every 3 weeks, and Damus every 2 months. Most recently, True was updated on July 18, 2026 and Damus on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*