# Pryvate vs SideGuide

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SideGuide at none against Pryvate's 11. SideGuide also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 70%) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). Pryvate's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (72 vs 16). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pryvate sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. SideGuide asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pryvate holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 72 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Pryvate's written reviews are positive against 90% of SideGuide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pryvate ships an update fortnightly, SideGuide every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pryvate | SideGuide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pryvate-encrypted-messenger/id914948581/reviews)** | [4.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideguide/id1146285685/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **72** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews | **89.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 125 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Criptyque](https://appshunter.io/developer/914948585) | [Dito Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1076141818) |

## What reviewers say

### Pryvate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pryvate-encrypted-messenger/id914948581)

This secure communication app offers encrypted messaging, voice, and video calls for individuals and businesses. It provides reliable global connectivity, file sharing, and advanced features like scheduled meetings and remote data control. Designed with privacy at its core, it ensures your conversations remain protected.

**Highlights:** Encrypted messaging, High-quality voice and video calls, Group conferencing, File and document sharing, Scheduled meetings, Secure email, Multi-device access

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anonymous Pryvate Number | $0.99 | per year |
| Remote Wipe | $1.99 | per month |
| Unlimited meeting time | $4.99 | per month |
| Pryvate Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Remote Wipe | $14.99 | per year |
| Get Pryvate Number | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Meetings | $49.99 | per year |
| Pryvate Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| 4.99 Off Net Credit | $5.99 | one-time |
| 9.99 Off Net Credit | $11.90 | one-time |
| 24.99 Off Net Credit | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Excellent encryption and security
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Fast and efficient communication
- ✨ All-in-one functionality (email, browser, etc.)
- 📞 High-quality calls (voice and video)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and annoying at times
- ⚠️ Requires phone number for sign-up
- 🚫 Requires access to contacts, camera, etc.
- ❓ Unclear benefit for certain tracking scenarios
- 📱 Apple Watch notifications show preview despite phone setting

**Reported bugs**

- Contacts not found even when both users have the app
- Notifications for new messages received but no new message in app
- OTP issues and difficulty maintaining server connection
- Impossible to verify from Maldives
- Stuck on 'fetching remote configuration'

**Requested features**

- Black theme/dark mode
- Ability to change phone numbers within the app for anonymity
- Develop a feature for changing phone numbers to enhance anonymity


### SideGuide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideguide/id1146285685)

Get advice on what to say in any social, romantic, or professional situation. Ask questions and receive anonymous ratings on your messages before sending them. Search a community-driven repository for guidance on common dilemmas.

**Highlights:** Crowdsourced advice platform, Anonymous message rating (1-5 scale), Searchable message repository, Guidance for social dilemmas, Help with romantic quandaries, Professional advice assistance

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pryvate free?

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

### Is SideGuide free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pryvate or SideGuide?

Pryvate is rated higher. Pryvate averages 4.3 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while SideGuide averages 4.1 from 16 ratings.

### Do Pryvate or SideGuide have ads?

Neither Pryvate nor SideGuide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pryvate or SideGuide?

Pryvate ships an update fortnightly, and SideGuide every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pryvate was updated on October 16, 2026 and SideGuide on October 12, 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.*