MsgSecret vs Underlayer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MsgSecret
Securely encode and decode messages to protect your privacy from message providers and prying eyes. Share your ciphered messages via email, SMS, social media, and more. Offers multiple ciphering methods for varying security levels.
- Encode and decode messages
- Multiple ciphering methods
- Share via email, SMS, social media
- Passcode/fingerprint authentication
- Save ciphering settings for quick access
- Shake gesture for encoding/decoding
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Turn everyday text into coded messages for puzzles, playful exchanges, and learning about classic ciphers. Choose a method, set a key when needed, and encrypt or decrypt on your device. MsgSecret includes classic ciphers, word transformations, and text encodings such as Base64. These methods do not provide secure encryption and must not be used to protect passwords, personal records, financial information, or other sensitive data. Base64 is encoding, not secrecy. Get started with a fixed interactive sample that shows a message being encoded and decoded back to its original text without spending credits. Use separate encrypt and decrypt input fields to work without overwriting what you entered. Method notes explain how each transform works and its limitations. Share the coded result through the iOS share sheet, or copy and paste it into your messaging app. Optionally share decoding instructions too. Recipients select the same method and paste only the coded message into MsgSecret. When a method needs a key, share it separately; keys are not automatically included in shared messages. Free access includes 3 successful encrypt or decrypt operations each day. This allowance resets at midnight UTC and does not accumulate. After using your daily allowance, each successful operation uses 1 saved credit. A completed optional rewarded ad adds 5 credits. A one-time in-app purchase provides unlimited transformations without rewarded ads. Previously purchased unlimited access can be restored. Features Classic ciphers, word puzzles, and text encodings in one place Fixed interactive sample with an encrypt-and-decrypt round trip Separate encrypt and decrypt input fields Native sharing, optional recipient instructions, and clipboard tools Method explanations with clear security limitations Exact key adjustment and accessible controls 3 free successful transformations per day Optional rewarded ads for 5 saved credits One-time unlimited access and Restore Purchases Designed for iPhone and iPad with a focused dark interface
Underlayer
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UNDERLAYER: STEGANOGRAPHY MADE SIMPLE Turn ordinary pictures into secret carriers. Underlayer hides a text message inside a photo and reads hidden messages back. Everything happens on your phone. HIDE A MESSAGE • Hide any text in a photo from your gallery • Two modes: Hidden (invisible pixels) and Open (colored frame) • Open mode survives Telegram and WhatsApp compression • Share the result right away or save it to the gallery READ A MESSAGE • Extract hidden text from an image in one tap • The app detects the mode automatically • Share an image to Underlayer from the gallery or a messenger PASSWORD PROTECTION • Lock a message with a password: it is encrypted with AES-256 before it goes into the picture • Without the password nobody can read it, not even in Underlayer • Opening a password-protected message is free for everyone TWO MODES HIDDEN MODE • The message is stored invisibly in the pixels • The picture looks exactly the same • Send it as a file: messengers recompress photos and erase the message OPEN MODE • The message is drawn as a colored frame around the picture • Survives sending as a regular photo in Telegram and WhatsApp • Best for messengers PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Processing happens on your device, no internet needed • Your images and messages are never uploaded • No account, no sign-up • Without a password, anyone who opens the picture in Underlayer can read the message. Add a password for confidential text IDEAS • A note or a riddle inside a photo for a friend • A quiet watermark with your name inside your own pictures • A game, a scavenger hunt, or a fun way to learn steganography ALSO IN THE BROWSER The free web tool at underlayer.mef.space uses the same format: hide a message on a computer and read it on your phone, or the other way round. Password-protected messages are opened in the app. 37 LANGUAGES The app follows your device language; you can change it in Settings. PREMIUM Free with all steganography features, with ads. Password protection comes with the Premium subscription, which also removes all ads, or unlock it for 24 hours by watching 3 short videos. A one-time purchase removes ads for good. JPG, PNG, GIF and WebP supported. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: MsgSecret at none against Underlayer's shown. Underlayer's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. MsgSecret sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Underlayer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MsgSecret ships an update every 6 months, Underlayer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MsgSecret | Underlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 184 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hassan Chizari | Mihail Rukavishnikov |
In-app purchases
MsgSecret
- Unlimited Encryption without Adv$0.99
Underlayer
- Premium$2.997 Days
- Remove Ads$3.99









