Comparison

Bridgefy vs Session

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

Head to head
About

Bridgefy

Communicate with others nearby without an internet connection using Bluetooth technology. Ideal for crowded events, travel, or emergencies, this app allows for both public and private messaging within a limited range.

Highlights
  • Offline messaging via Bluetooth
  • No internet required after initial login
  • Message people nearby (up to 330 feet)
  • Public and private chat options
  • No need to add contacts
Features
Read full description

IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INTERNET THE FIRST TIME YOU OPEN THE APP SO YOU CAN LOG IN. After that, no Internet is needed again. Bridgefy: Messaging Without the Internet Bridgefy lets you send messages when there is no Internet. Use it at concerts, sports events, on trips, or during emergencies to stay in touch with the people around you. More than 12.5 million people worldwide already use Bridgefy to stay connected when it matters most. Key Features: Offline Messaging: Use Bluetooth to send messages to people nearby (up to 330 feet or 100 meters). No Contacts Needed: You don’t need to add contacts—just start chatting with nearby Bridgefy users. Private Chats: Send private messages after interacting in the Public Chat—tap on someone’s avatar to start a one-on-one conversation. How to Get Started: 1. Turn on Bluetooth. 2. Open Bridgefy with an active Internet connection (this is required only the first time to activate the app). 3. Once activated, go to the Public Chat to message people nearby. 4. Tap on someone’s avatar if you want to send them private messages. Note: Public Chat messages are visible to everyone nearby also using Bridgefy. Subscription: By Subscribe, you agree to the Terms of Services and Privacy Policy. Terms of Services: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://bridgefy.me/privacy-policy

About

Session

A private messenger focused on user data protection through a decentralized network. It offers secure, end-to-end encrypted communication without requiring personal information for account creation. Enjoy private group chats and secure file sharing with no ads or trackers.

Highlights
  • Fully private account creation
  • Decentralized server network
  • No metadata logging
  • IP address protection
  • End-to-end encrypted group chats
  • Secure attachments
Features
Read full description

Session is a new breed of private messenger, built on a unique network of user-operated servers spread all over the world. With no central servers, Session can’t leak or sell your data. And with Session’s private routing protocols, your messages are completely safe. No trackers, no leaks — send messages, not metadata. • Fully private account creation: No phone number or email needed to create an Account ID • Decentralized server network: No data breaches, no central point of failure • No metadata logging: Session doesn't store, track, or log your messaging metadata • IP address protection: Device IP addresses are never exposed to the person you're talking to or the servers holding your data • Closed groups: Private, end-to-end encrypted group chats for up to 100 people • Secure attachments: Share voice snippets, photos, and files with Session's secure encryption and privacy protections • Free and open-source: Don’t take our word for it — check Session's code yourself Session is free as in free speech and free as in free of ads and trackers. It is stewarded by the Session Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation dedicated to advancing digital rights and innovation. Take back your online privacy today — download Session. Want to build from source, report a bug, or just take a look at our code? Check out Session on GitHub: https://github.com/session-foundation/session-ios Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Session Terms of Service: https://getsession.org/terms-of-service

Screenshots

Bridgefy3 screens
Session4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Session at 4.4 against Bridgefy's 2.6. Session also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 21%) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Bridgefy's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bridgefy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Session asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Session holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session has 5.4K ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Bridgefy's written reviews are positive against 61% of Session's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bridgefy ships an update weekly, Session fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Bridgefy versus Session: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBridgefySession
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (65 ratings)4.4 (5.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.7% of reviews61.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings655.4K — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#93 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB92 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBridgefy, Inc.The Loki Project

Customer experience

Bridgefy

All ratings65 ratings
Positive38.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative56.9%
Written reviews217 reviews
Positive20.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative77.0%

Session

All ratings5,406 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews1,254 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral12.0%
Negative26.6%

User reviews

Bridgefy

From 65 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works without internet
  • 👍 Useful for group travel
  • 🚀 Offline communication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work as expected
  • 🔒 Requires login/account
  • 🔋 Drains battery
  • 📢 Intrusive ads

Session

From 5.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 Secure and private messaging
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive
  • 🔒 No phone number or personal data required
  • 💡 Innovative use of blockchain and Tor network

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable notifications and message delivery
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Slow media file transfers
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Limited features compared to competitors

Bugs and requests

Bridgefy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login/sign-up issues
  • Unable to detect nearby users
  • Notifications not working
  • Crashes and freezes

Requested features

3 requests
  • Extend communication range
  • Add profile pictures and discovery
  • Improve reliability and connectivity

Session

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Messages not syncing across devices
  • Inability to join or view group chats
  • Attachments and media not loading properly
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add voice and video calling
  • Implement self-destruct/ephemeral messaging
  • Allow customization of chat backgrounds and themes
  • Improve group chat functionality
  • Add support for multiple accounts/identities

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Bridgefy

Subscriptions3
  • Remove Ads$0.991 Month
  • Bridgefy Plus$1.991 Month
  • Bridgefy Plus$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$29.99
None

Session

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bridgefy free?
Bridgefy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Session free?
Session is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bridgefy or Session?
Session is rated higher. Bridgefy averages 2.6 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Session averages 4.4 from 5.4K ratings.
Do Bridgefy or Session have ads?
Bridgefy shows ads; Session does not.
Which is updated more often, Bridgefy or Session?
Bridgefy ships an update weekly, and Session fortnightly. Most recently, Bridgefy was updated on November 11, 2026 and Session on November 12, 2026.

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