Comparison

Shortwave Messaging vs Ghost

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

Head to head
About

Shortwave Messaging

Connect with people nearby through public messages within a 70-foot radius. This social networking app utilizes location services and Bluetooth to facilitate local communication.

Highlights
  • Public messaging
  • 70-foot communication radius
  • Location-based
  • Bluetooth integration
Features
Read full description

Public messaging with a 70-foot radius. Shortwave requires Location Services and access to Bluetooth.

About

Ghost

This messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted chats and voice calls for ultimate privacy. Connect anonymously without sharing personal information and enjoy group conversations with minimal metadata collection.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Encrypted voice calling
  • Anonymous profiles
  • Group chats
  • Minimal metadata collection
Features
Read full description

Ghost is your ultra-private messaging companion—designed from the ground up for total peace of mind. With Ghost, your conversations stay truly yours: End-to-End Encryption Every message, image, and file is encrypted on your device and only decrypted on the recipient's device. Not even we can read your chats. Encrypted Voice Calling Make crystal-clear, one-on-one voice calls protected by the same encryption standards as your messages. Calls ring through even when your phone is locked, so you never miss an important call. Anonymous Profiles No phone numbers, no email addresses. Connect with friends and communities without revealing personal information. Group Chats Bring your circle together in encrypted group conversations without sacrificing the privacy you expect from every one-on-one chat. Minimal Metadata We collect only what's strictly necessary—such as app version and crash logs—to keep the service running smoothly. No ad tracking. No analytics. Whether you're a privacy advocate, a whistleblower, or simply someone who values discretion, Ghost keeps your conversations—and your calls—private and protected from prying eyes. Download now and start talking with complete confidence.

Screenshots

Shortwave Messaging3 screens
Ghost4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ghost at 4.1 against Shortwave Messaging's 3.0. Ghost also leads on ratings volume (7 vs 1). Shortwave Messaging's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ghost holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ghost has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shortwave Messaging ships an update fortnightly, Ghost every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Shortwave Messaging versus Ghost: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortwave MessagingGhost
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)4.1 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB74 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCornfield Creative, LLCKacper Oselka

Customer experience

Shortwave Messaging

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative41.7%

Ghost

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

Shortwave Messaging

No in-app purchases

None

Ghost

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shortwave Messaging free?
Shortwave Messaging is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ghost free?
Ghost is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shortwave Messaging or Ghost?
Ghost is rated higher. Shortwave Messaging averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Ghost averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.
Do Shortwave Messaging or Ghost have ads?
Neither Shortwave Messaging nor Ghost shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shortwave Messaging or Ghost?
Shortwave Messaging ships an update fortnightly, and Ghost every 9 days. Most recently, Shortwave Messaging was updated on November 1, 2026 and Ghost on November 12, 2026.

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