# Privates! vs xPal Ultra Secure Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: xPal Ultra Secure Messenger at 4.7 against Privates!'s 2.1. xPal Ultra Secure Messenger also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 36%) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Privates!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xPal Ultra Secure Messenger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Privates! asks for nothing beyond the download.

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 143 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Privates!'s written reviews are positive against 76% of xPal Ultra Secure Messenger's.

Privates! ships an update monthly, xPal Ultra Secure Messenger weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Privates! | xPal Ultra Secure Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privates/id944801045/reviews) | **[4.7 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpal-ultra-secure-messenger/id1536908440/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **143** |
| Positive reviews | 36.2% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 244 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [RXN, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/944801044) | [XPAL.com Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562481384) |

## What reviewers say

### Privates!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privates/id944801045)

Secure your private conversations with end-to-end encryption and advanced screenshot protection. Messages can be set to self-destruct, and you can recall sent messages. Ideal for sensitive communication, including medical and legal information exchange.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Screenshot protection, Self-destructing messages, Message recall, HIPAA compliant, Drawing and reactions

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Recall feature for messages
- 🔒 Security and privacy features
- 💡 Ability to read romance books anywhere
- 💰 Cheaper than tangible books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cannot sign up
- 🐛 App crashes on launch
- 🐛 Phone number not accepted
- 🐛 Misleading app description
- 🐛 Requires recipient to have the app

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to sign up with phone number
- App closes immediately after opening
- Login screen does not progress
- SMS registration message not received
- Invalid phone number error

**Requested features**

- Add email sign-up option
- Allow deletion of purchase history


### xPal Ultra Secure Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpal-ultra-secure-messenger/id1536908440)

Communicate privately without a phone number using a secure, independently verified messenger. Features end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and file transfers, with advanced privacy controls and disappearing message options.

**Highlights:** No phone number required for registration, End-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and file transfers, Independently verified security, Disappearing messages (Flicker™ Mode), Metadata removal for photos/videos, Desktop and web access

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription 1 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 2 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 3 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 4 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription 5 | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription 1 | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Additional Number Purchase | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Purchase xID | $99.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Purchase xID 2 | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Privates! free?

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

### Is xPal Ultra Secure Messenger free?

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Privates! or xPal Ultra Secure Messenger?

xPal Ultra Secure Messenger is rated higher. Privates! averages 2.1 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while xPal Ultra Secure Messenger averages 4.7 from 143 ratings.

### Do Privates! or xPal Ultra Secure Messenger have ads?

Neither Privates! nor xPal Ultra Secure Messenger shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Privates! or xPal Ultra Secure Messenger?

Privates! ships an update monthly, and xPal Ultra Secure Messenger weekly. Most recently, Privates! was updated on November 1, 2026 and xPal Ultra Secure Messenger on November 7, 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.*