Comparison

Privates! vs Link Messenger stories, calls

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

Head to head
About

Privates!

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
Read full description

Are your privates safe? Privates is a next-generation secure messaging app that protects your private messages end-to-end - even after they’ve been read! Industrial-strength encryption keeps hackers out, while patent-pending screenshot protection keeps recipients from making and sharing unauthorized copies. You can choose how quickly messages self-destruct, and send funny, natural reactions. KEEP YOUR MESSAGES SAFE All messages are encrypted end-to-end. Only the recipient can read them. Screenshot prevention mechanisms prevent recipients from forwarding, copying or saving your messages. Customize self-destruct settings, and protect your message with Mild, Wild, or Insane security! SENT SOMETHING BY MISTAKE? Recall any sent message with the touch of a button! KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Send photo, video, or text messages Send natural, organic reactions Draw and write on photos to get your point across. Quickly find contacts from your address book or Facebook PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY HIPAA-compliant - doctors and medical staff can securely exchange patient information. Complies with ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct - Confidentiality of Information, Rule 1.6 (c) Minimal user data is stored on our servers. Our strict privacy policy prevents your data from being misused.

About

Link Messenger stories, calls

This app enables secure, high-fidelity messaging and HD voice/video calls with advanced end-to-end encryption. It prioritizes user privacy and reliable delivery, even on slow networks, and offers built-in photo editing tools.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted conversations
  • HD voice and video calls
  • Fast and reliable message delivery
  • Built-in image editing
  • Dark theme option
  • Uses existing phone number and address book
Features
Read full description

Stay close with Link Messenger. Bring everyday conversations, voice and video calls, stories and short videos together in one app. MESSAGES THAT KEEP YOU CONNECTED Chat one-to-one or bring people together in a group. Share photos, videos, voice messages and files, from a quick update to the moments you want to keep. VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS Hear a familiar voice or talk face-to-face. Make voice and video calls over your internet connection and stay in touch wherever life takes you. STORIES FOR YOUR DAY Share a photo, video or text story that disappears after 24 hours. Choose who can see it, react to friends' stories and keep the conversation going. SHORT VIDEOS AND POSTS Watch and share short videos, publish photos and posts, and discover something new. Follow the people you care about and connect through likes and comments. PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS Private chats and calls use end-to-end encryption. Control your privacy settings and use disappearing messages when a conversation does not need to stay. Posts, stories and other social content are separate from end-to-end encrypted conversations. MAKE LINK YOURS Choose a light or dark theme and manage your notifications. Use Link on your phone and explore our desktop apps for Windows and Mac. Core messaging and calling features are free. Optional Premium features and other in-app purchases are available. Ads may be shown to users without Premium. An internet connection is required; mobile data charges may apply. Learn more: https://linkmessenger.me Help: https://linkmessenger.me/helpCenter Privacy: https://linkmessenger.me/privacy Terms: https://linkmessenger.me/terms

Screenshots

Privates!4 screens
Link Messenger stories, calls4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Link Messenger stories, calls at 4.3 against Privates!'s 2.1. Link Messenger stories, calls also leads on ratings volume (554 vs 29) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Privates!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (36% vs 16%). On price, ads, monetization model and device support 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. Link Messenger stories, calls sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Privates! asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Link Messenger stories, calls holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Link Messenger stories, calls has 554 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of Privates!'s written reviews are positive against 16% of Link Messenger stories, calls's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Privates! ships an update monthly, Link Messenger stories, calls every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Privates! versus Link Messenger stories, calls: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivates!Link Messenger stories, calls
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (29 ratings)4.3 (554 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.2% of reviews — better16.5% of reviews
Number of ratings29554 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB410 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRXN, LLCLink Messenger

Customer experience

Privates!

All ratings29 ratings
Positive27.6%
Neutral3.4%
Negative69.0%
Written reviews47 reviews
Positive36.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.8%

Link Messenger stories, calls

All ratings543 ratings
Positive81.2%
Neutral4.1%
Negative14.7%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive16.5%
Neutral9.4%
Negative74.1%

Bugs and requests

Privates!

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Link Messenger stories, calls

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Verification code not received
  • Inability to register with certain phone numbers
  • Inconsistent performance issues between Android and iOS
  • UI elements disappearing or malfunctioning

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to edit sent messages
  • Option to delete messages completely
  • Improved group chat functionality
  • Consistent feature parity across platforms

In-app purchases

None

Privates!

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Link Messenger stories, calls

Subscriptions3
  • Link Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Link Premium Quarterly$2.693 Months
  • Link Premium Yearly$7.191 Year
One-time7
  • Premium 1 month$1.99
  • Sticker Pack$1.99
  • Sticker Pack$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Premium 3 months$5.99
  • Premium 6 months$11.99
  • 75 Super Likes$12.99
  • Premium 1 year$23.99

Questions

Is Privates! free?
Privates! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Link Messenger stories, calls free?
Link Messenger stories, calls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Privates! or Link Messenger stories, calls?
Link Messenger stories, calls is rated higher. Privates! averages 2.1 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Link Messenger stories, calls averages 4.3 from 554 ratings.
Do Privates! or Link Messenger stories, calls have ads?
Neither Privates! nor Link Messenger stories, calls shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Privates! or Link Messenger stories, calls?
Privates! ships an update monthly, and Link Messenger stories, calls every 2 weeks. Most recently, Privates! was updated on October 24, 2026 and Link Messenger stories, calls on October 30, 2026.

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