# VisiTel vs Kiwichat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VisiTel at none against Kiwichat's 2. VisiTel also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 17%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Kiwichat's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kiwichat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.95 per month. VisiTel asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.9 for VisiTel against 3.0 for Kiwichat. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 17 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of VisiTel's written reviews are positive against 17% of Kiwichat's.

VisiTel ships an update every 3 weeks, Kiwichat every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VisiTel | Kiwichat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visitel/id960090707/reviews) | **[3.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kiwichat/id1641874725/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Manit Chanthavong](https://appshunter.io/developer/960090706) | [KIWICHAT INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637829063) |

## What reviewers say

### VisiTel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visitel/id960090707)

Connect with incarcerated loved ones through convenient video calls from home. Schedule and receive virtual visits after obtaining approval from the detention center. Not all facilities offer this service, so check local policies.

**Highlights:** Place video calls to detainees, Receive video calls from home, Requires detention center approval, Account creation via website, Customer support available

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Kiwichat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kiwichat/id1641874725)

Connect with individuals in correctional facilities through instant messaging. This free application facilitates communication, helping to maintain relationships with incarcerated loved ones. It offers a simple interface for easy texting.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging to people in prison, Free to download and use, Easy-to-use interface, Facilitates staying in touch, Subscription plans available

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kiwi Premium Chat | $4.95 | per month |
| Test Georgia Chat | $6.95 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VisiTel free?

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

### Is Kiwichat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VisiTel or Kiwichat?

Kiwichat is rated higher. VisiTel averages 2.9 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Kiwichat averages 3.0 from 17 ratings.

### Do VisiTel or Kiwichat have ads?

Neither VisiTel nor Kiwichat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VisiTel or Kiwichat?

VisiTel ships an update every 3 weeks, and Kiwichat every 2 months. Most recently, VisiTel was updated on October 24, 2026 and Kiwichat on October 20, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*